TH 9505 
.N5066 

1916 _ _ 

Copy 1 

I rire Department Promotion 
Examination Instruction 

For all Ranks in the Uniformed Force and all Bureaus in the 
Fire Department. 


750 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 

to Civil Service Examination Questions, etc., 

and 1000 EXAM’N QUESTIONS 

For Chief, Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Engineer, 
Fire Prevention Inspector, Chief Examiner Fire Prevention, Fire 
Marshal, Asst. Fire Marshal, Chief of Construction and Repairs, 
Supt. Fire Alarm Bureau, Fire Telegraph Operator, Advisory En¬ 
gineer, Electrical Engineer, Insp. Fire Appliances, Insp. Combus¬ 
tibles, Examiner of Plans, Chief Boiler Inspector, etc. 

Covering Examinations in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadel¬ 
phia, Netcark and Jersey City. 


OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION OF THE NEW YORK FIRE 
COLLEGE AND BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. 


300,000 WORDS OF INSTRUCTION 


Second, Enlarged, Edition (Illustrated) 
Price: Cloth, $3.50; Paper, $3.00. 



ClVlI 

CHR< 



ice 1 

ICLE 


23 Duane Street, New York. 



Copyright, 1810, by Civil Service Chronicle, Inc. 






















ENGINEER OF STEAMER 


Answers to New York City Examination Questions, Prac¬ 
tice Questions and Answers and Specimen Papers, 
New York and Chicago. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ENGINEER OF STEAMER. 

Fire Department. 

Date: May 2, 1913. 
TECHNICAL—Weight 7. 

Ques. 1:—Describe the construction and 
use of the Throttle Valve. 

ANS.:—The Throttle Valve is. a large size 
Globe Valve with a long stem, with a 
ground joint with a stuffing box, for pack¬ 
ing to make up a tight steam joint. It is 
connected to a dry pipe leading to the steam 
chest of boiler and has a wheel handle. 
When used it permits the steam to enter 
dry pipe and slide valve through the steam 
ports, where it enters the cylinders at each 
*\nd of the stroke, and after performing its 
work is exhausted through exhaust pipe and 
out through the stack of boiler to the outer 
air. 

It keeps the engine in operation at the 
different speeds which are the pistons in 
the cylinders and the pump plungers of the 
pumps, either single or double, according to 
the pressure required. 

Ques. 2:—Describe the construction, use 
and situation of the Relief Valve. 

ANS.:—The Relief Valve is a device made 
of threaded collars with a spiral spring at 
tension with a handle. It is attached to the 
discharge side of the main pump and con¬ 
nected with the suction chamber. Its pur¬ 
pose is to relieve hose from undue pressure. 

It is used in connection with a shut-off 
nozzle. When such nozzle is either par¬ 
tially or fully closed the valve is operated 
automatically, like a Safety Valve, and the 
surplus water not required for the duty be¬ 
ing performed is diverted from the hose 
into the suction chamber of the pump, with¬ 
out cessation of the machinery. - 

Its operation is similar to that of a Churn 
Valve, the difference being that the Relief 
Valve works automatically, while the Churn 
Valve does not. Some valves relieve at any 
pressure over 5 pounds, but most of them 


are generally set to relieve at 75 pounds 
pressure to the square inch. 

It is situated on the working side of the 
engine, connected to the discharge side and 
to the Suction Chamber, and has a valve 
between the Relief Valve and the Suction 
Chamber of the pump, so as to cut out the 
Relief Valve to make a solid pump or 
should the pump become disabled from any 
cause. 

Ques. 3:—Clearly state your reasons why 
the boiler water level should not go below 
the second cock; and what would happen if 
it went below the lowest gauge cock. 

ANS.:—Owing to the rapid generation of 
steam and the agitation of the water in the 
boiler when working at a fire of any ex¬ 
tent, the water would be liable to be drawn 
down suddenly, and the tubes and sheets 
would be scorched or burnt, and if water 
was fed into the boiler when in such a con¬ 
dition it would cause an explosion. 

There should be at all times at least 2^4 
gauges of water in the boiler, and when 
working at a fire the Engineer should keep 
a continuous feed, which will be very bene¬ 
ficial. 

Most of the boilers generate steam much 
better with at least V/?. gauges of water than 
when working with less. 

Ques. 4:—Describe the construction, use 
and situation of the churn valve. 

ANS.:—It is simply a stem valve with a 
handle, and the churn valve is to permit the 
operation of the pump without discharging 
water through the natural channels. It con¬ 
trols a passage by which the discharging 
side of the pump is connected with the suc¬ 
tion chambers. 

When the engine is attached, and there is 
not sufficient steam pressure to force the 
stream by opening the churn valve, water 
will pass through the pipe, and into the 
hose without revolving the pump, so that 
hydrant pressure can be instantly utilized 
until the engine is started. 

In draughting water when the engine is 
first started, this valve must remain closed 
until the pump is filled with water, thereby 




excluding the air. It may be opened slight¬ 
ly with good effect when pumping through 
long lines or when first starting against a 
heavy resistance, thereby increasing the 
speed of the machinery without actually de¬ 
livering a greater quantity of vapor. 

It also permits the engine to be kept in 
motion, for the purpose of supplying the 
boiler at times when it is undesirable to de¬ 
liver water through the hose lines. 

When the engine is put to work at the 
river it is good practice to feel this valve 
to be sure of its complete closure. 

Ques. 5:—When should the steam jet be 
used, and when the variable exhaust? 

ANS.:—When the engine is not running 
the fire may be replenished if necessary; 
and it can be kept bright by slightly open¬ 
ing the blower valve, by means of which a 
steam jet is blown into the smoke stack for 
the purpose of improving the draught. 

In connection with good coal and good 
firing on the part of the Engineer, who 
should make proper use of the exhaust lever 
to maintain ample working pressure of 
steam, and when there is plenty of steam 
the exhaust should be kept wide open. If 
more steam is required push in the lever. 
This will diminish the opening, and the ve¬ 
locity of the exhaust will be increased, im¬ 
proving the draught, but creating a back 
pressure on the engine. 

The variable exhaust is particularly use¬ 
ful when first starting, but as the boiler 
steams more freely, open it to the fullest 
extent. 

Ques. 6:—When and why is the sprinkler 
used? 

ANS.:—It is mostly used when the engine 
is on asphalt streets, also to prevent burn¬ 
ing the rear wheels and rubber tires, or on 
wooden piers, or on docks, to keep the same 
from being burned. It is also used at fires 
to create a draught to help the fire along, 
the cold air going up through the grate. 

Ques. 7:—State specifically, in the exact 
order of doing them, the steps you take to 
deliver the water on your arrival at the fire 
in an uptown tenement district. 

ANS.:—With a hydrant wrench and a 
chock in my hands, I run in advance of the 
engine to the hydrant. Open the top of 
the hydrant, take the cap off, give the spin¬ 
dle a turn or two and listen to ascertain 
whether there is any air in hydrant. Chock 
the engine, pull off my hydrant connection, 
connect same to the hydrant, take off the 
suction cap. Then connect to the suction, 
open up the hydrant with the wrench, then 
the gate on which ever side the hose is con¬ 
nected to, open up the throttle valve slowly. 

If using 154-inch hose, don’t give them 
more than 50 pounds water pressure to the 
square inch. Go around to the fire box and 
keep a clean, bright fire, not over 3 or 4 
inches in height, not forgetting to close 
your drips on the engine. Also oil machin¬ 
ery and feed water in the boiler if neces¬ 
sary. 

Have the driver go to the fire and see 

© 


that there are no kinks in the line; also to 
inform me where the company is working 
and if the pressure is sufficient. 

Ques. 8:—Assuming that while you are 
running your boiler under a full head of 
steam and delivering water at 130 pounds 
pressure, that the controlling nozzle, which 
is not visible to you, is suddenly shut off. 
How will you know that it is shut? What 
will happen, and what action will you take? 

ANS.:—Just as soon as the nozzle would 
be shut off the pressure would back up on 
the line, the engine would begin to labor 
hard and might possibly come to a stop, or 
the hose might burst. 

I would immediately back off on the 
churn valve, and if they were going to use 
less pressure or wash down, and the officer 
sent back a message that they were going 
to take-up soon, I would open the cut-out 
and work on the relief valve, slow down on 
the throttle valve, and give them such pres¬ 
sures as they might require. 


Ques. 0:—With 200 feet of 3-inch hose to 
standpipe and 50 feet of 254-inch hose on 
the 6th floor, what should be the water 
pressure at the engine if the discharge pres¬ 
sure at the 154-inch nozzle is 30 pounds? 

ANS.:—A 154-inch nozzle with 30 pounds 
at the nozzle would discharge approximate¬ 
ly 205 gallons per minute, and with the fol¬ 
lowing friction loss: 

On 200 ft. 3-in. hose. 8 lbs. 

On standpipe to 6th floor.26 “ 

On 50 ft. 254-in. hose. 5 “ 

On Siamese connection, etc.10 “ 

On nozzle pressure .30 “ 


IDS. 

The water pressure should be approxi¬ 
mately about 80 pounds. This is figuring lcT 
feet per story. 

Ques. 10:—In packing an engine, what 
care as to stuffing box is necessary? Where 
do you place the piston? How do you know 
that the work is properly done? Is there 
any difference in packing the pump end? 

ANS.:—Care must be taken not to injure 
the threads. Screw off the stuffing box. 

Place the piston rod down as far as it will 
go out of the cylinder to give yourself plen¬ 
ty of room to perform your work conven¬ 
iently. 

Before packing, pull down the gland and 
remove all the old packing with a small 
steel bar, about 54-inch in diameter, 12 
inches long, drawn to a point. No rough 
instrument should be used, as it may 
scratch the rod, which will in turn destroy 
the packing. 

Let the packing be a little larger in diam¬ 
eter than the gland is thick. Cut the oack- 
ing on the bias, in lengths to encircle the 
rod, the ends not to quite touch, to allow 
the packing to expand, and that it is driven 
into the boxes with a drift made of hard¬ 
wood, the rings to be inserted as to break 
the joints. Soak the packing in oil mixed 
witji; graphite and keep it clean and free 
rhen it loses its elasticity it 


M2714 2 


MAR -4 1916 


■ / ' 







becomes worthless by becoming dry and 
hard and has a tendency to make the engine 
thump. Also cut and flute the piston rods. 

Yes, there is quite a difference, as the 
piston and valve rods are packed in separate 
lengths in rings, while the pump ends are 
packed in one piece of hemp packing, and as 
when water gets on same, expands it and 
makes a tight joint. 

Ques. 11:—If you find that you cannot 
get a sufficiently high pressure when oper¬ 
ating in water tower, state all the possible 
causes of this that you know. 

ANS.:—You may not have your cut-out 
closed, which would mean that you had not 
a solid pump. 

Or your churn valve may be off the seat, 
it being necessary to have the churn valve 
seated. 

Or you may not have the throttle valve 
open enough to allow the engine to supply 
the pressure that may be required, which 
could be seen by looking at the compound 
gauge, if the engine has one. If the needle 
indicated any water pressure, it would 
mean that you were not running the engine 
to its full capacity. By opening the throt¬ 
tle valve a little more, until the needle on 
the gauge would indicate vacuum pressure 
(or so many inches of vacuum), the engine 
would be performing all that it was capa¬ 
ble of, considering the water supply. 

It is of importance to keep your feed 
closed, if the steam pressure should be low. 

Or perhaps the pipe on the water tower 
may be clogged with some obstruction 
either in the pipe or in the nozzle. 

Ques. 12:—What is the theory of the 
gasolene four-cycle automobile engine? 
State what happens in each stroke; how 
the gasolene is fed, and how the gas is ig¬ 
nited. 

ANS.:—The theory of a four-cycle auto¬ 
mobile engine is four strokes of a four¬ 
cycle engine, which are suction, compres¬ 
sion, power and exhaust, which are repeated 
in regular order. 

Cycle power is used in propelling the auto 
engine by means of: 

A clutch, gears containing a series of spur 
gears, which alter the speed of the rear 
wheels; 

A drive-shaft with a universal joint at 
each end, or a jack shaft or chain drive; 

A differential gear, which allows the rear 
w'heels to rotate at different rates of speed 
on a curve; 

A rear drive axle or sprocket through 
which the power is delivered to the rear 
wheels; 

A complete upward and downward move¬ 
ment of the piston from high dead center, 
the piston going clown on the suction 
stroke. The inlet valve opening causes the 
gases to rush into the head of the cylinder, 
and on the up stroke compression takes 
place, and after the piston has reached by 
dead center of the compression stroke and 

of an inch over, an electric spark ignites 
the gases and causes an explosion, forcing 
the piston down, with both valves closed, 


and with the exhaust valve ready to open 
on the upward stroke. 

The inlet valve allows the good gases to 
come from the carbureter to the supply pipe 
to enter the cylinder. 

An electric spark from a magneto or bat¬ 
tery in the combustion chamber where com¬ 
pressed gases are held ignites the gases, 
causing an explosion. 

Three-eighths of an inch over high dead 
center in order that an explosion occur as 
the crank has been carried over, so as not 
to reverse the motor or snap the crank¬ 
shaft. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight, 2. 

Ques. 1:—(a) If an alarm of fire reaches 
quarters to which the company must re¬ 
spond, state in detail the duties that devolve 
upon the Engineer of Steamer before arriv¬ 
ing at the fire. 

(b) Give the reasons why engines must 
be turned over each day and placed on a 
different center. 

ANS.:—(a) The Engineer will disconnect 
the engine from the heater connections, pull 
up the lever on the plug cock, push down 
the rod which connects the heater in the 
cellar, and generally open the furnace door 
in the cellar. 

When the engine reaches the sidewalk, 
he must be prepared to light the charge in 
the fire box, and if the alarm is from a sta¬ 
tion far distant, throw in a few pieces of 
cannel coal and make sure not to allow his 
fire to burn out or get low. Always to have 
enough steam on the boiler, and be prepared 
to give any pressures that may be required, 
or to thaw out any hydrant that may be 
frozen in cold weather. 

(b) To prevent pitting, corrosion or rust¬ 
ing the piston rods. Often the throttle 
valve may be leaking at the stem, or the 
valve may not be properly seated. Or 
enough exhaust steam may remain in the 
cylinders, and the air that is confined in the 
cylinders has a tendency to rust the pistons. 
They should be cleaned and turned over on 
a different center every day; also have 
enough cylinder oil in the cylinders to help 
prevent the same. 

Ques. 2:—State fully the duties of the En¬ 
gineer of Steamer in regard to the care of 
the engine upon returning to the engine 
house after a fire. 

ANS.:—The Engineer will have at hand 
a pail of water, a tin cup, a basket of excel¬ 
sior and kindling wood. After drawing the 
fire, he will cool the grate with cups of wa¬ 
ter, open the jet (or blower valve) and 
cause any sparks that may remain in the 
dome to be blown out and extinguished. 

After laying the excelsior and kindling 
wood in the fire-box, fill up the ashpan with 
:nough cannel coal to last at least one hour. 
Wash off the wheels and tires of the engine 
and have it backed into quarters. 

Connect to the heater connections, mak¬ 
ing sure to open the plug-cock on the water 


3 


end, and pull up the rod on the floor to con¬ 
nect to the heater in the cellar, and if it is 
in the cold weather and the Engineer had 
shut off the glove valve on heater connec¬ 
tion, be sure to open same and see that the 
engine circulates. 

Fill up the cylinders and slide valve oil 
cups with cylinder and lubricating oil. Ex¬ 
amine the engine thoroughly. See that no 
bolts or nuts are loose. Then wash engine 
and woodwork thoroughly, examining all 
tools and appliances to make sure that none 
are missing and that everything is in first- 
class condition and ready for immediate use. 

Ques. 3:—Give in detail the care to be 
given to the hose in summer and in winter, 
after use of fresh or salt water, the testing 
of the hose, and the procedure if hose bursts 
while in use at a fire. 

ANS.:—Wet and damp hose are to be 
hung up in the tower as soon as possible, 
and if dirty it is to be scrubbed clean with 
broom. If any hose bursts or is taken out 
of line in winter, it is to be protected from 
the weather by placing it in buildings if nec¬ 
essary. Drain the water from hose; see 
that it has the proper washers; connect 
same, putting a little kerosene and lubricat¬ 
ing on a piece of waste and apply to the 
he butt of hose. 

The officer is to mark bursted hose at ' 
the pressure at which it bursted. He will 
keep same in the tower and notify head¬ 
quarters by letter the following day. He 
will not allow hose to be driven over by 
apparatus recklessly. He will report all 
injuries to hose, and see that it is sent to the 
repair shops, without being cut or its con¬ 
dition changed. He will make a special re¬ 
port if any driver of a U. S. mail wagon 
drives over hose unnecessarily. 

The Engineer when testing hose will use 
all the proper precautions to avoid acci¬ 
dents or injury to men. After the hose is 
connected to the engine and capped, no 
members will be allowed near same, except 
the Engineer, until such time as the pres¬ 
sure is released by the Engineer. 

If hose bursts at a fire and it is only a 
small burst, a hose-jacket may be used. If 
it cannot be used, the water is shut off and 
line disconnected, and the bursted length 
is replaced by another length secured from 
a hose wagon. It is also necessary to make 
entries in the company journal of records 
of all hose, and also report and account for 
hose monthly. 

Ques. 4:—The pipes and coils connected 
with the heating apparatus of a fire engine 
are liable to get clogged by accumulations 
of scale and other foreign matter. State 
how such accumulations should be removed. 

ANS.:—The line pipes leading from the 
engine boiler to the heating apparatus 
should be disconnected. Blow water 
through the coil to remove any accumula¬ 
tions of scale that may have formed, and 
weekly remove the plugs of the circulating 
cocks and tallow them. 

It is good practice to disconnect the line 


pipes every three months to keep them in 
good condition. 

Ques. 5:—To keep the wheels and axles 
of an engine in good working order at all 
times, certain things must be done by those 
in charge at regular periods. Give full par¬ 
ticulars concerning this special work. 

ANS.:—Once each week, or oftener if 
necessary, remove all the wheels and grease 
the axles, first wiping off the old grease 
from the axle arms and wheel boxes. 

New axles to be examined after each run 
for the first three months. 

In replacing wheels, have l /& of an inch 
end play between the wheel hub and axle 
nut. 

It is always best to grease wheels after 
a few runs to keep the axles and wheels in 
good condition owing to the heavy appa¬ 
ratus and long distances, and have an entry 
made of the same in the company journal. 

REPORT—Weight 1. 

(To be finished by 4 P. M.) 

Write a report addressed to the Munici¬ 
pal Civil Service Commission based on the 
following: 

Assume that you are in charge of an en¬ 
gine and respond to a large fire near the 
waterfront. On arrival you find that you 
are unable to get a hydrant and you are 
ordered to take suction from the river. 
State precisely, and in proper order, what 
you would do to put your engine to work, 
and also give your reasons for what you do. 

Do not sign any name, number, initials or 
title to this report. 

In rating this report the chief considera^- 
tion will be given to the knowledge of the 
subject shown by the candidate; but con¬ 
sideration will also be given to conciseness 
and clearness of expression. 

ANSWER:— 

New York, May 2, 1913. 

Municipal Civil Service Commission, 

299 Broadway, New York. 

Gentlemen: 

I respectfully report as follows: 

While responding to Signal Station 000, 
at 8.45 P. M. this date, fire at 135 Blank 
Street, while in charge of the engine, I was 
unable to procure a hydrant or to connect 
to another engine, owing to the shortage of 
water in the mains, and I was ordered to 
take suction at the foot of X Street. 

I had the driver take the engine to the 
foot of Y Street dock and took suction, and 
supplied two efficient streams, operating for 
three hours. The engine performec 1 effi¬ 
ciently. When I returned to quarters I con¬ 
nected the engine to double hydrant in front 
of quarters, and washed out the engine 
pumps and hose thoroughly, and placed the 
engine in service. 

I had the driver take the engine about 
one foot away from the end of the dock, 
and chocked the wheels, to keep the horses 


from pulling the apparatus away. I also 
chocked the axles and springs, to take the 
vibration off the engine. I took off my two 
large suctions, connected them, and then 
connected the strainer to the end of the suc¬ 
tion. I connected the 4j4-inch swivel con¬ 
nection to the suction of engine, made it 
up, air-tight, got the rope, tied a loop at 
end of the suction strainer with a bow¬ 
line, then two half-hitches between the butts 
of the two suctions, and made a bight snug 
and fast, and lowered the suction over¬ 
board; made sure it wasn’t stuck in the mud 
or sand, tied the other end of the rope to 
the rear wheel with a rolling hitch, which 
was to take the strain off the suction and 
the suction to supply salt water. 

I got the fresh water connection and 
fresh water hose and connected to fresh 
water connection and to feed branch on en¬ 
gine; took the cap off the fresh water con¬ 
nection, broke the line of hose which was 
about 50 feet away from the engine, and 
connected the fresh water connection be¬ 
tween the two lengths, the driver having re¬ 
ceived permission from the officer in charge 
at the fire, which was to receive a fresh 
water supply to supply the boiler. 

I closed all the fresh water feed branches, 
so as not to allow salt water to get into the 
boiler, also primed my pumps by allowing 
fresh water in them, which was to assist 
the pumps to lift the water with the air 
valves at the head of the pumps open. Af¬ 
ter the pumps were primed, I closed the air 
valves at the head of the pump. 

I seated the churn valve and cut out the 
relief valve, which was for the purpose of 
making a solid pump. Having thrown sev¬ 
eral large pieces of cannel coal in the fire¬ 
box, I had at least 2 l / 2 gauges of water in 
the boiler. In the meantime, I sent the 
driver back to the fire to find out where the 
company was located, so as to know how to 
regulate the pressures, and when they or¬ 
dered the water I would open the gate to 
allow the water in the line, open the throt¬ 
tle valve and give what pressures would be 
required. Have the automatic oil feed regu¬ 
lated, and oil the bearings thoroughly, to 
keep the engine running smoothly and 
with the least friction. Having placed the 
wheel fenders with an air space at the rear 
wheels to keep them from being scorched 
or burned, also use the sprinkler, so as not 
to burn the dock underneath the engine. 

Very respectfully, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ENGINEER OF STEAMER. 

Fire Department. 
TECHNICAL. 

Date: June 8, 1909. 

(To be finished by 1 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—Describe fully the boiler used 
in the Metropolitan Fire Engine, mention¬ 
ing its good features. 


ANS.:—It is known as the Fox Sectional 
Boiler, a steam generator of the vertical 
water tube type. It consists of a simple 
annular shell, heavily stay-bolted through¬ 
out, and constitutes a water-legged firebox 
and steam reservoir, there being no crown 
sheets, smoke flues, or other complications. 
The principal heating surface consists of 
straight water tubes and manifolds in sec¬ 
tional form. All connections are readily 
accessible and permit the withdrawal of any 
of the manifold sections. The lower part of 
waterleg of the shell is contracted for the 
rapid generation of steam. The inner shell 
is flanged inward, enlarging the annular 
space between the inner and outer sheets, 
providing a more copious reservoir, which 
prevents the rapid fluctuation of the water 
level. The increased area of its surface at 
that point is very favorable to the disen¬ 
gagement of steam, which protects the 
flanged parts of the inner shell, and no dan¬ 
ger can occur, either from a wilful or an 
accidental drawing down of the water, as 
the spray deflected through the nipples of 
the outer tubes protects the flange, al¬ 
though the actual water level is well down 
in the leg. 

The steam in contact with the upper part 
of the shell is by no means dry, as the heat 
absorbed at this point is sufficient to amply 
protect it and assist in bringing the steam 
to a proper working pitch. 

The principal heating surface is in the 
vertical water tube sections, and comprise 
an inner and outer tube system. The outer 
system embraces the short manifold sec¬ 
tions which encircle the firebox walls, and 
the top end of each is screwed and sus¬ 
pended from the flanged parts of the shell. 
The lower end is stayed by a direct con¬ 
nection into the leg of the firebox, and the 
tubes are staggered in their manifolds, ex¬ 
posing the greatest possible surface to the 
fire. The direct and fierce application of 
heat to the tubes causes a natural and active 
upward current, which in turn induces a 
downward tendency to the water in the leg 
of the firebox and promotes the flow into 
the feed pipes arranged to supply the inner 
system of tubes. The inner tube system 
comprises those tubes that extend to the 
upper part of the boiler. The construction 
of the vertical inner tube system is very 
simple, and consists of the required number 
of manifold sections, the flat inner end of 
each upper manifold being bolted to a 
heavy transverse beam and supported in 
suitable pockets secured to the upper part 
of the shell. All connections are united by 
a right and left nipple, and a single connec¬ 
tion to the leg of firebox serves to supply 
both. At the top of boiler each section has 
its separate and distinct connection with the 
steam space. 

The heating surface of the boiler is very 
effective. Steam is generated freely and 
firing made easy. The draft can never be¬ 
come impaired by accumulation of soot, and 
the advantages possessed by this boiler are 
numerous. Working pressure can be gen¬ 
erated in six minutes from cold water, and 


5 




the provisions for expansion are so perfect 
that no bad effects are noticed from such 
severe treatment. 

A first size boiler is 36 x 66 inches in 
diameter. On inner side of inner shell is 
a steam take-off, which encircles the inner 
shell, perforated at a distant point, and 
steam entering this ring is held in contact 
with the heated shell, insuring dry steam. 
About 11 tube sections, from three to seven 
in each, making 22 manifolds in the boiler. 
The inner tubes are about 41 inches long. 
The shells are made of steel, and the mani¬ 
fold tubes are counterbored, thus admit¬ 
ting the full sections, leaving none of the 
threaded portion exposed. 

Ques. 2:—Describe the Clapp and Jones 
Engine and Pump. 

ANS.:—It is a double engine. It has two 
engines and two pumps. It receives and 
discharges at each stroke, by means of 
valves. Main pumps are connected to the 
main engine. Pump plunger rods are con¬ 
nected to the lower crosshead by four bolts, 
forming a yoke. The upper crosshead is 
connected to the piston rod, which is con¬ 
nected to the piston plate and a follower 
plate and connecting rods, connected to a 
crank pin and to the lower crosshead. 

The eccentric is fastened to the crank¬ 
shaft, and the eccentric strap is fastened 
to the eccentric. The eccentric rod is con¬ 
nected to the eccentric strap. 

The slide valve is in the steam chest, and 
controls the flow of steam to the cylinders, 
at the different points of the stroke of the 
engine for its operation. Double engines 
discharge from 1,000 to 400 gallons of water 
per minute, and the sizes of cylinders run 
from 6 inches to 9J4 inches. Stroke of 
pistons, 6 to 9 inches, and the pumps from 
4 to 524 inches. 

The Clapp and Jones Pumps are double 
vertical, cast in one piece. The water 
plungers are made of gun metal, and are 
water packed. The plunger rods are made 
of Tobin Bronze, and are equal to the best 
steel. They will not rust or destroy the 
packing in the stuffing boxes. They are 
free from friction and a high water pressure 
maintained for a long period. The pump 
heads are like cages, fitted with inlet and 
outlet valves of simple construction, with 
suction valves, made of rubber and held in 
place by studs and pins. The discharge valves 
are rubber and are fitted tightly, and are 
expanded over a head and held in place by 
their elasticity, which is sufficient to quickly 
and firmly seat them, with no loss of motion. 
This insures great ease in the flow of water 
into and out of the pump. It has ten suc¬ 
tion and two discharge valves. 

Ques. 3:—What is the difference in the 
action of a single-acting pump from that of 
one that is double-acting? Which pumps 
in a fire engine are double-acting, and why? 

ANS.:—A single-acting pump receives its 
water on its up-stroke and discharges it 
with the down-stroke of the pump, while a 
double-action pump receives and discharges 


its water with each stroke of the plunger. 

Most all of the engines in the Depart¬ 
ment have double-action pumps. If one 
should get out of commission there would 
be the other feed pump to rely on. 

Ques. 4:—(a) What parts of the engine 
should be oiled most frequently while run¬ 
ning? 

(b) Describe the cylinder lubricator. 

ANS.:—(a) All the bearings of the en¬ 
gine should be well supplied with oil and 
kept free from grit and cinders, in order 
that oil holes may be fed regularly and the 
cylinder oil cups used as often as may be 
required. 

(b) It is a device to feed oil into the 
cylinders, which in turn keep the slide valve 
lubricated. It is regulated by the Engineer 
to feed as many drops of oil as may be 
necessary. There is a drain valve to empty 
condensed steam, and a valve to regulate 
the flow of oil into the slide valve. 


Ques. 5:—Describe all of the various ap¬ 
pliances and means for forcing the draft 
on an engine. 

ANS.:—The variable exhaust, in connection 
with good coal and good firing. The Engineer 
must make proper use of the exhaust lever 
to maintain an ample working pressure of 
steam. When there is plenty of steam the 
exhaust should be kept wide open. If more 
steam is required, push in the lever, which 
will diminish the opening, and the velocity of 
the exhaust will be increased, improving the 
draught by creating a back pressure on the 
engine. It is particularly useful when first 
starting, but if the boiler steams more freely 
open it to its fullest extent. 

There is also a steam jet (or blower). It is 
a small pipe running from the steam chest 
over top of boiler and into the smokestack. 
The end which projects into the stack is 
slightly reduced in size so that you can give 
the steam greater force. Its object is before 
the fire and to make more steam while the 
engine is not working. 


Ques. 6:—What is the use of the churn 
valve, and where is it located? 

ANS.:—The principal object of the churn 
valve is to permit the operation of the pump 
without discharging any water through the 
natural channels. It controls a passage by 
which the discharging side of the pump is 
connected with the suction chambers. When 
the engine is attached, and there is not suffi¬ 
cient steam pressure to force the stream, by 
opening the churn valve water will pass 
through the pipe and into the hose without 
revolving the pump, so that hydrant pressure 
can be instantly utilized until the engine is 
started. 

In draughting water, when the engine is 
first started, this valve must remain closed 
until the pump is filled with water, thereby 
excluding the air. It may be opened slightly 
with good effect when pumping through long 
lines, or when first starting against a heavv 
resistance, thereby increasing the speed of the 
machinery without actually delivering a great 
er quantity of water. 


c 


It also permits the engine to be kept in 
motion for the purpose of supplying the boiler 
at times when it is undesirable to deliver 
water through the hose lines. When the en¬ 
gine is put to suction at the river, it is a good 
practice to feel this valve, to be sure of its 
complete closure. 

Ques. 7:—How is the relief valve con¬ 
structed? What is its use? And where 
located? 

ANS.:—A device attached to the discharge 
side of pump and connected with the suction 
chamber. It is a spring valve, and set to re¬ 
lieve at 75 pounds to the square inch. Its 
purpose is to relieve the hose of undue pres¬ 
sure, and it is used in connection with a shut¬ 
off nozzle. When such nozzle is partially or 
fully closed, the relief valve is operated auto¬ 
matically; it operates itself, while the churn 
valve is operated by hand. 

Ques. 8:—How is the water level in the 
boiler shown and how would you make sure 
of the level while in action? 

ANS.:—The water level of engine boiler is 
shown in the water column or glass gauge, 
which shows the height of water. To make 
sure of the water level while in action, try 
your gauge-cocks frequently and never depend 
on the glass tube, as it may become clogged, 
and opening the pet-cock on the water column 
will show whether it is or not. 

Ques. 9:—State fully the care to be given 
the engine after returning from a fire and 
while standing in the house. 

ANS.:—Bring your basket with excelsior 
and wood and pail of water. Draw fire from 
the grate. Cool grate with water taken from 
pail in tin cups or with brooms. Put in your 
wood and excelsior. Put several cups of oil 
in cylinder and fill cylinder oil cups; also 
automatic oil feed, if necessary. Examine 
your engine thoroughly. See that all stuffing 
boxes are tight and all nuts tight, as they may 
have become loose. Clean woodwork with 
warm water and soap. Clean bright work of 
the engine. See that there is at least 2J4 
gauges of water in boiler and that when en¬ 
gine is connected to the furnace in cellar that 
vertical check is acting properly, the steam 
circulating and proper temperature on steam 
gauge. See that none of the connections is 
leaky, that all tools and appliances are on 
engine, and enough fuel in back of ash pan. 
See that your hydrant wrenches and hydrant, 
connections and suctions are supplied with 
the proper washers. Be sure that the Bonner 
nipple and fresh water connection with the 
Croton hose are in good condition. In cold 
weather, have thaw hose connected to the 
valve on boiler and a can of rock salt, for 
use when necessary, with the hydrant pump, 
ready for service. 

Ques. 10:—(a) What effect has the length 
of the line of hose upon the pressure at the 
nozzle? 

(b) Show by arithmetic how much more 
water is necessary to supply a l*4-inch 
nozzle than a 1-inch nozzle at the same 
pressure. 


ANS.:—(a.) It is most important to have 
the proper sized nozzle on the line to secure 
an effective stream, for if the nozzle is too 
small, the water will chock at the tip, caus¬ 
ing it to spray. If nozzle is too large, the 
stream will not be effective. It is best, in 
order to obtain the best results, to change 
the nozzle to suit the various pressures. 

The length of the hose makes a great dif¬ 
ference in the quantity of water delivered, 
as when the hose is very long the power of 
the engine is used up by the friction of the 
water passing through the hose, and the speed 
at which the engine works depends very much 
on the length of the suction hose, the length 
of the delivery hose and the size of the nozzle. 
These determine the amount of water that 
can be delivered by the pump or discharged 
from it, and nothing can be gained by running 
an engine faster than it is capable of receiving 
and discharging the water. 

(b) :— 

1.5 inch nozzle 1 inch nozzle 

1.5 1 


75 1 

15 

2.25 

1 . 


1.25 times more water. (Ans.) 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Ques. 1:—(a) Explain the method of 
using salt water at fires. 

(b) In what sections of the city is it used? 

(c) Explain the advantages and disad¬ 
vantages of its use. 

(d) May it be used in the boiler? 

ANS.:—(a) When the engine is placed at 

the river to draw salt water, all suction joints 
and connections must be perfectly air-tight, 
feed-valves branching from the main pumps 
closed, the churn-valve seated, the relief- 
valve cut out, and the air-valves on top head 
of the pumps open before starting the engine. 

The boiler should be supplied with fresh 
water from line of hose, or from the tank 
under the driver’s seat, which may be tem¬ 
porarily filled from buckets, or with salt water 
if necessary. After the pumps are thoroughly 
primed, the air-valves on the top heads of 
pumps should be closed. Upon returning to 
quarters after working salt water, the engine 
should be connected with hydrant and main 
pump thoroughly washed out. 

(b) It is used mostly at all the rivei* sec¬ 
tions and, in fact, wherever it may be neces¬ 
sary to take suction. 

(c) The advantages are very few, outside 
of the saving of Croton water, and the dis¬ 
advantages are many. The following are a 
few of them. If used to feed the boiler, it 
will cause it to foam, which makes it neces¬ 
sary to watch the amount of water in the 
boiler. It raises the water from the heated 
sheets, and they become hot, and the water 
falling on them they crack, and sometimes 
cause explosion. You are never sure of the 


7 




true water level when the engine is working 
under heavy pressure. It also causes the boil¬ 
er to corrode, and it damages any hose or 
materials that it comes in contact with. 

(d) Yes, it may be used in the boiler if 
there ever should be such a condition as be¬ 
ing unable to obtain fresh water around the 
river district. In such case, I would wash the 
boiler and pumps out thoroughly upon my 
return to quarters, and put fresh water in the 
boiler before backing the engine into the house. 

Ques. 2:—When a test is being made of 
“company hose,” what particular service 
does the Engineer of steamer perform? 
What precaution must be taken with refer¬ 
ence to the other members of the company, 
and state why this is necessary. 

ANS.:—The Engineer sees that the hose 
lengths are capped, cuts out the relief valve, 
runs up his engine slowly to the designated 
pressure required, and must be prepared to 
shut down the engine and reduce the pres¬ 
sure on the pumps instantly if hose should 
burst before it stands the designated pres¬ 
sure. 

It is also necessary for the Engineer to take 
the necessary precautions in requiring the 
members of the company to be at some safe 
distance, so that none of them may be injured, 
should any hose burst under heavy pressure. 
But these tests are now being made at the 
repair shops when required. 

Ques. 3:—What is the treatment to be 
given axles, and what special treatment is 
to be given new axles? 

ANS.:—Once each week (or oftener, if nec¬ 
essary) remove all the wheels of Department 
apparatus and grease the axles, first wiping 
off the old grease from the axle arms and 
wheel boxes; new axles to be examined and, 
if necessary, greased after each run for the 
first three months. In replacing wheels have 
one-eighth of an inch end play between wheel 
hub and axle nut. 

Ques. 4:—(a) Describe the precautions 
taken to prevent freezing of hydrants. 

(b) Explain fully what should be done at 
a fire where the hydrants are found frozen. 

ANS.:—(a) During the cold season after 
using a hydrant, close the valve tightly and 
draw the remaining water off with the hydrant 
pump, and in all single hydrants (except New 
York pattern), also hydrants not connected 
with drain or sewer, place therein a quantity 
of rock salt in stock to create a brine to pre¬ 
vent from freezing. 

(b) They must be thawed out immediately 
with steam from the engine with the thaw 
hose, by opening up the thaw hose valve. Also 
pump out hydrant, making sure that water is 
turned off, and a handful of salt will keep 
hydrant from freezing. It is also well to oil 
spindle and nipple of hydrant to keep in the 
best of condition. 

Ques. 5:—You are on duty in a district 
where fires are infrequent and it often hap¬ 
pens that a considerable period elapses be¬ 
fore the engine is called out for actual work. 
Under such circumstances how and at what 


intervals would you treat your engine and 
apparatus in order to be prepared for any 
emergency? Give full details. 

ANS.: —If the engine has not been out of 
quarters for four weeks, it should be con¬ 
nected to the hydrant in front of quarters and 
steam generated in boiler sufficiently to show 
that the safety valve and all the parts of the 
engine are in good working order, including 
the automatic relief valve. Test main pumps. 
Increase the water level in glass gauge. Work 
down the steam pressure to 40 pounds, and 
blow down and fill up the boiler by using 
the blowoff cock. Lower heater connections 
and the surface blowoff cock until the water 
shows clear in the gauge glass and, if prac¬ 
ticable, clean the water leg of boiler by re¬ 
moving the mud plugs, using the Croton pres¬ 
sure with small hose. 

Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ENGINEER OF STEAMER, 

Fire Department. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Date: 1902. 

Ques. 1:—What, in general, are the duties 
and responsibilities of an Engineer of 
Steamer? 

ANS.:—The Engineer is responsible for the 
proper running of the engine. If any parts 
get out of order he shall immediately report 
the same to his commanding officer. It is his 
duty to have the engine in first-class condi¬ 
tion and prepared to supply a sufficient amount 
of water pressure when necessary. Have all 
the tools and appliances in good condition for 
immediate use. Have the heater connections 
and hot air and hot water furnace in good 
condition at all times and give them the prop¬ 
er care. Not engage in conversation when 
operating the engine. 

Ques. 2:—Is there any danger to engines 
in cold weather? If so, state the troubles 
that may arise and how they are overcome 
or prevented. 

ANS.:—In answering an alarm of fire in 
very cold weather, if the globe valve at the 
leg of the boiler on the heater connection is 
not shut off, the water remaining in the pipe 
to the pluck cock will freeze and will have 
to be thawed out upon returning to quarters, 
but this can be avoided by shutting the globe 
valve and opening the plug cock on heater 
connection. Also when feeding the boiler, the 
pet cocks on the check valves on feed line 
should be opened when not feeding the boiler, 
as the water running in the feed line will 
freeze. It is also necessary to open the drips 
at the bottom of the pumps to drain them, 
when the Engineer is ordered to take up and 
keep engine turning over, which would drain 
the water remaining in the feed pipes and 
pumps. 

Ques. 8:—Explain fully “suction” and 
“hydrant” connections and state when each 
is used and the precaution to be observed. 

ANS. :—The suction connection is about a 
10-foot 4H-inch hard rubber, with steel bands 


8 



to keep from collapsing, and is used as a 
waterway to connect with hydrant to the suc¬ 
tion of engine. It is used at all second or 
greater alarms of fire. There is also a short 
suction, 4j4-inch in diameter, to couple two 
engines together, if necessary, to save the 
company from having a long stretch of hose. 
It is also used when draughting salt water 
at the river by coupling two suctions together 
with a strainer at the bottom. 

The hydrant connection is used at all first 
alarms on the hydrant and connected to the 
engine to supply water at the fire, and also 
to feed the boiler. When either the suction 
or hydrant connections are used they should 
have rubber washers on each end to make 
them airtight, and when salt water is used 
they should be washed thoroughly with fresh 
water upon return to quarters. It is neces¬ 
sary to be careful and keep them from coming 
in contact with rough or sharp points of pave¬ 
ments, as damage or wear would cause fric¬ 
tion. 

Ques. 4:—What are the rules equally 
binding on all uniformed members of the 
Department? 

ANS.:—Must not commit any assault or 
breach; do any act for which they can or may 
be arrested; sell or assign their salaries; bor¬ 
row any money from or procure one another 
to endorse any note, check, assignment of sal¬ 
ary, or evidence of debt; must not refuse 
within 30 days to liquidate any indebtedness 
incurred for necessaries; must not loan, sell 
or give away any public property. Shall at 
all times serve the best interests of the De¬ 
partment by observing and reporting all mat¬ 
ters concerning its welfare. Must not use 
obscene, immoral, disrespectful, impudent or 
improper language, and shall always be cour¬ 
teous and respectful. Shall not enter any 
place in uniform where spirituous, malt or 
intoxicating beverages of any kind are sold. 
No member shall be guilty of cowardice. No 
member shall be under the influence of in¬ 
toxicating liquors. Shall not be a delegate 
or a representative to or a member of any 
political or partisan convention, nor directly 
or indirectly invite, solicit or suggest contrib¬ 
utions, subscriptions or donations. 

Ques. 5:—State the duties of an Engineer 
at the engine house after a fire and also his 
ordinary duties. 

ANS.:—After a hard working fire, if a flue 
boiler, clean the tubes with tube brushes and 
have engine in first-class condition. Fill cyl¬ 
inder oil cups, put the charge in the firebox, 
connect engine to heater connections, fill ash- 
pan with cannel coal, see that the vertical 
check valve is circulating properly and all 
tools and appliances are in good order and 
ready for immediate use. It is his duty to 
turn the engine on a different center each day, 
see that all piston rods are kept clean and the 
bright work and running gear kept clean and 
neat, and the axles well greased. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n., N. Y. 
ENGINEER OF STEAMER. 

Fire Department. 

Date: Feb. 1, 1916. 

TECHNICAL. 

(To be finished by 1.30 P. M.) 

(NOTE:—Nearly all of the questions in 
the Technical paper are answerable from 
the contents of this book. Many of the 
questions are also answerable from the 
Chronicle’s books, “Fire Engineers’ Quiz 
Book,” “Steam Apparatus m Use in the 
New York Fire Department,” and “Fire De¬ 
partment Hydraulic Problems.”) 

1. What do you understand by the heat¬ 
ing surface of a boiler? Explain briefly the 
construction of the Clapp & Jones boiler. 

2. What effect has the admission of salt 
water into a boiler? If the water level is 
carried too high, how would this affect the 
performance of the engine? 

3. Explain the use of the sprinkler. Does 
its use affect the pressure in any way? 

4. Where you are carrying 2J4 gauges of 
water and 100 pounds steam, what would be 
the effect of opening wide the feed valve? 
What, in your opinion, is the best method 
of operating this valve? 

5. What is the purpose of (a) the variable 
exhaust; (b) the steam jet; (c) drip cocks in 
steam cylinders; (d) churn valve? 

6. Explain how the air chamber operates. 

7. In starting up an engine where connec¬ 
tion is made to a hydrant, state in detail and 
in proper order all the operations. 

8. State how you would make sure of the 
water level in a boiler, describing fully the 
operations and observations. 

9. A single-acting two-cylinder engine has 
an 8-inch stroke and 5-inch cylinder. How 
much water is pumped at each revolution? 

10. Explain the operations in the cylinder 
of a 4-cycle automobile engine. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. State the substances that should be 
used in cleaning the following: 

(a) Metal work, brass, silver and copper 
parts of the apparatus; 

(b) Iron and steel parts of an engine; 

(c) On pajrds of an engine where there is 
friction; 

(d) The tubes of boilers; 

(e) The woodwork of the apparatus. 

2. State the several operations enumer¬ 
ated in the rules which are deemed neces¬ 
sary to keep an engine in good working 
condition when it has not been out of quar¬ 
ters within a period of four weeks. Answer 
fully. 

3. How must an Engineer of Steamer 
regulate the water-line level in the following 
types of boilers when at a fire: 

(a) A tubular boiler; 

(b) In a double shell nest type boiler; 

(c) In a coil or water-tube boiler; 

(d) The fire in the heating apparatus? 


9 


4. What action, as stated in the rules, is 
an Engineer of Steamer required to take 
every three months with regard to: 

(a) The line pipes of an engine; 

(b) The coil pipes of an engine; 

(c) The circulating cocks? 

5. (a) What is the immediate duty of an 
Engineer of Steamer upon receiving an 
alarm of fire to which his company is about 
to roll? 

(b) What is the duty of an Engineer of 
Steamer when his company arrives at the 
scene of the fire? 

(c) What is the duty of an Engineer of 
Steamer upon the arrival of his company at 
a fire in a high-pressure district? 

REPORT. 

(To be finished by 4.30 P. M.) 

Assume that you have responded to a fire 
at the dock, and your suction is placed to 
take the water from the East River. Engine 
is started and all parts appear to be work¬ 
ing properly, but you cannot get up the 
water pressure. 

Write a report, addressed to the Munici¬ 
pal Civil Service Commission, upon this 
matter, making your own decision as to the 
cause of the trouble and methods of rectify¬ 
ing it. 

(Sign this report “John Doe,” Engineer 
of Steamer, Engine Company 99.) 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ENGINEER OF STEAMER, 

Fire Department. 

TECHNICAL. 

Date: October 29, 1903. 

1. (a) What is your age? (b) What was 
your education? Give time and place of 
school and other studies. 

2. (a) Have you ever learned the trade of a 
machinist? If so, when and where? (b) 
Have you served as boiler fireman or steam 
engineer? If so, when, where and how long? 

3. Give any other facts from your experi¬ 
ence that would, in your opinion, tend to 
qualify you for promotion to the position of 
Engineer of steamer. 

4 and 5. Describe briefly, but clearly, the 
construction of (a) La France nest water tube 
and flue boiler, and (b) La France pump, 
piston type, naming the good features of each. 

6. State how you would lay a fire in an 
engine ready for starting, also how you would 
start and keep up a good fire in an engine 
while in use. 

7. (a) Describe the operation and number 
of the boiler feed pumps on a fire engine, 
(b) How many check valves are connected 
with each feed pump, and why? (c) In case 
your feed pumps broke down at a fire, how 
would you supply the boiler? 

8. Describe (a) the blower and (b) the 
variable exhaust on a steamer, and state what 
is their use. 


9. (a) In using a very long line of hose, 
what is the effect on the delivery of water 
and what is the reason? (b) What can the 
Engineer do to improve the delivery? 

Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ENGINEER OF STEAMER, 

Fire Department. 

Date: 1902. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. What, in general, are the duties and re¬ 
sponsibilities of an Engineer of steamer? 

2. Is there any danger to engines in cold 
weather? If so, state the troubles that may 
arise and how they are overcome or prevented. 

3. Explain fully “suction” and “hydrant” 
connections, and state when each is used and 
the precaution to be observed. 

4. What are the rules equally binding on all 
uniformed members of the Department? 

5. State the duties of an engineer at the en¬ 
gine house after a fire and also his ordinary 
duties. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. By whom and under what authority are 
fire alarms and telegraph signal stations fixed 
and designated? Under this authority what 
other powers are vested in the person so au¬ 
thorized with reference to such alarm stations, 
etc., and what are the restrictions as to the use 
and the persons allowed to make use of such 
authority, telegraphs, etc.? 

2. What suits and actions may be brought 
in the interest of the Departments, by whom 
are they brought and by whom conducted? 

3. To what penalties and fines are uniformed 
members of the Department subject for in¬ 
fraction of the rules? For what other of¬ 
fenses than violation of the rules may such a 
member be punished by the Commissioner? 

4. What restrictions are placed upon the 
Commissioner as to the dismissal of members 
from the force? 

5. Give the substance of the law with refer¬ 
ence to the obstruction of fire hydrants. 

6. Is it ever lawful to destroy buildings by 
the use of explosives? If so, under what 
circumstances and under what authority? 

7. You are off duty and in citizen’s dress. 
You see some boys on election night building 
a bonfire with barrels, shavings, collected from 
a carpenter shop after nightfall, etc.; what 
is your duty? 

8. A fireman is injured at a fire through the 
failure of a tenant of a building properly to 
close his hoistways and iron shutters. What 
legal liabilities ensue, how are they deter¬ 
mined and what disposition is made of moneys 
recovered in such case? 

9. What right of search is given to the Fire 
Department of its officers? 

LOCALITIES. 

Boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. 

1. Suppose the Grand Central Station were 
burning and a high northwest wind were 




blowing. What large building in the vicinity 
would be threatened, and is the building 
threatened of such a nature as to require 
particular precautions? If so, what precau¬ 
tions should be taken? 

2. Name fire engine companies that would 
be most likely called to respond to an alarm 
of fire from the Cosmopolitan Hotel. 

3. Name and locate five engine companies 
in the Borough of the Bronx. 

4. An engine company on 67th Street, near 
Third Avenue, is called to subdue a fire at the 
Museum of Natural History. What would be 
the quickest route to go? 

5. Name four hotels on Fourth Avenue and 
mention the safeguards of each hotel named 
as against fire. 

6. Name the portion of the city most likely 
to suffer from a large fire, giving boundaries 
of the district mentioned, and your reasons 
for thinking the district named peculiarly 
liable to danger. 


Chicago Civil Service Com’n. 

ASSISTANT ENGINEER, 

Fire Department. 

DUTIES. 

1. How should a slide valve be set? 

2. What is the cause of foaming? Give 
remedy. 

3. In case of foaming, how may the water* 
level in boiler be found? 

4. If water becomes low in boiler, what v ^ 

should be done? ?!| 

5. In case an eccentric slips, what should 
be done ? 

6. Give standard sizes of steam pipe up to 
2 inches. * 

7. What should be done if the water glass 
should break while working? 

8. Describe method of grinding a loose disc 
throttle valve. 

Part 2 of Duties consisted of a practical 
test in operating a fire engine. 


Chicago Civil Service Com’n. 
ENGINEER, GRADE 2, 

Fire Department. 

Scope of Examination: Physical, Technical, 
Experience and Educational (Arithmetic, 
Spelling and Penmanship). 


TECHNICAL. 

1. What are the chief materials used in fire 
engine boiler construction, and what are the 
most important qualities required in them? 

2. (a) What is the heating surface of a 
boiler? (b) Does a tube give up more heat 
to water in a vertical or a horizontal position? 

3. (a) What is meant by the efficiency of 
a boiler and its furnace? (b) What is gen¬ 
erally accepted as a safe ratio of working 
pressure to bursting pressure of a steam boil¬ 
er? (c) Give rule for finding safe working 
pressure. 

4. (a) Define valve gear. (b) What is 
meant by “stroke” of engine? (c) What is 
meant by the terms “head-hout” and “crank- 
end” of a steam engine cylinder? 

5. Which end of the cylinder has the more 
power? Explain why. 

6. If an engineer has plain slide valve en¬ 
gine and wishes to make the cutoff earlier, 
what should he do? The port opening is to 
be the same as before. 

7. (a) How does a lubricant prevent rub¬ 
bing surfaces becoming hot? (b) Which is 

( the best animal oil for lubricating machinery? 
Which is the best vegetable oil? 

8. (a) What is meant by a direct acting 
steam pump? (b) What governs its speed? 
(c) Are fire engine pumps direct acting? 

9. In going to suction the pumps fail to 
draft; what should be done? 

10. Describe and explain the use of the (a) 
air chamber, (b) vacuum chamber, (c) relief 
valve, (d) churn valve, (e) priming cocks, (f) 
air cocks. 


ARITHMETIC. 

1. Add the following: 284, 367, 234, 543, 
238, 450. 

2. A pump throws 148 gallons of water per 
minute. How much will it throw in 35 min¬ 
utes? 

3. A man earns $2,575 in a year and spends 
$1,385. How much does he save in one year? 

4. How much will 46 tons of coal cost at 
$3.45 per ton? 

5. Divide 6,860 by 28. 


ARITHMETIC. 

1. Add the following: 284, 367, 234, 543, 
238, 450. 

2. A pump throws 148 gallons of water 
per minute. How much will it throw in 35 
minutes ? 

3. A man earns $2,575 in a year and spends 
$1,385. How much does he save in one year? 

4. How much will 46. tons of coal cost at 
$3.45 per ton? 

*5. Divide 6,860 by 28. 


SPELLING. 

Machine, Damper, Permit, Stroke, Metal, 
Ashes, Draft, Valve, Pilot, Suction, Pressure, 
Exhaust, Danger, Signal, Recover, Moisture, 
Heavy, Mixture, Wheel, Produce. 

Penmanship marked on Experience paper. 


SPELLING. 

Machine, Damper, Permit, Stroke, Metal, 
Ashes, Draft, Valve, Pilot, Suction, Pressure, 
Exhaust, Danger, Signal, Recover, Moisture, 
Heavy, Mixture, Wheel and Produce. 


11 



ENGINEER OF STEAMER, 

Fire Department. 

PRACTICE QUES. AND ANS. 

Ques. 1:—What is the weakest part of 
the steam drum? 

ANS.:—The center of the drum. The pres¬ 
sure begins at the sides, and the nearer it 
gets to the center the weaker it gets. 

Ques. 2:—Which is the largest end, the 
steam or water? 

ANS.:—The steam end has to be larger 
to drive the engine or plunger to make the 
pressure. 

Ques. 3:—Explain the working of a slide 
valve and piston. 

ANS.:—When the slide valve gives, the lead 
on top the piston moves down in the cylinder, 
and when the crank is on the first quarter 
the port is full open, and the piston has 
reached about one-quarter of the travel and 
keeps traveling down. When the piston reach¬ 
es three-quarters of the stroke, the rest of the 
stroke is traveled on expansion steam that 
has been used but has some power left. As 
the piston is coming down, it is forcing the 
dead steam out through the bottom exhaust 
port, in the “D” valve through the stack to 
the air. 

Ques. 4:—Suppose your variable ex¬ 
haust broke, how long could you work? 

ANS.:—You could work right along. The 
only thing that might occur is that the ex¬ 
haust would become closed and probably lift 
some of the coal off the grate by creating a 
greater draft, but. that would not stop the 
engine from working. It would show some 
back pressure. Some engines steam well 
enough with the exhaust open, while others 
have to be partly closed. 

Ques. 5:—Locate on the drawing of slide 
valve the bridges and what they are for. 

ANS.:—They are in the steam chest, and 
are to divide the space between the steam 
and exhaust ports. 

Ques. 6:—Suppose you were giving 75 
pounds of water pressure, and you were or¬ 
dered to give more, how would you do it? 

ANS.:—I would slow down the engine be¬ 
low the relieving pressure, cut out the relief 
valve by closing the cutout valve, which would 
lock her,, and give what pressure was required 
by speeding up the engine. 

Ques. 7:—What is foaming, and how 
would you remedy the same? 

ANS.:—Foaming is caused by the agitation 
of the water, which is the result of dirty or 
greasy water, causing it to rise from its prop¬ 
er level. The dirt raising from the bottom 
carries the steam and water with it. 

I . would open the cylinder and steam chest 
drain cocks, put on a strong feed, open the 
furnace door, slow down the engine a little, 
blow off a gauge of water through surface 
blowoff valve as often as I could without 
interfering with my steam, and keep doing 


so until I had all the dirty water out of the 
boiler. On returning to quarters, blow her off 
with 20 pounds of steam pressure and give 
the boiler a good washing out. 

Ques. 8:—If you were working the en¬ 
gine and found the water below the first 
gauge cock, would you feed your boiler? 

ANS.:—No, not by any means 1 Keep the 
engine running and put damp ashes on the 
fire, for if you disturb your fire it will help 
to raise your steam. 

Ques. 9:—What is priming? And how 
would you remedy the same? 

ANS.: —It is somewhat similar to foaming, 
but from different causes. It is caused by the 
steam being suddenly released, or excessive 
blowoff on the safety valve, or crowding of 
steam room, which causes the water in the 
boiler to rise from its level. 

I would open the furnace door, and put on 
a strong feed to reduce the steam; open the 
drain cocks on cylinder and steam chest to 
relieve them of the bodies of water, and in 
a short time the water will come back to its 
proper level. 

Ques. 10:—What is the throttle valve at¬ 
tached to? 

ANS.: —It is attached to the steam pipe be¬ 
tween the boiler and the steam chest. 

Ques. 11:—Why is an air chamber put 
on a pump? 

ANS.: —It is put on for the reason that 
when the pump is working the water is forced 
up into the chamber and compresses the air, 
and the air acts as a cushion on the valves 
and the piston head in the water cylinder. 

Ques. 12:—What is a cushion? 

ANS.:—A cushion is anything compressible, 
and by its compression results in a higher 
and stronger pressure, consequently acting as 
a spring, and deadening concussion. Water 
will cause a shock, it being nearly as solid 
as iron, so if a double-acting pump has no air 
chamber, there would be a continuous thump¬ 
ing noise. 

Ques. 13:—What is a vacuum? 

ANS.:—A space devoid of air or matter. 

Ques. 14:—Can a perfect vacuum be 
formed? 

ANS.:—No. About 9 or 11 per cent, of 
the atmosphere, which is 14.7 tenths per sq. 
inch, will remain. 

Ques. 15:—What will a vacuum do? 

ANS.: —It will lift water 33 feet, provided 
that all connections are airtight and in good 
order. 

Ques. 16:—How is a vacuum created? 

ANS.: —When a plunger of a pump is well 
packed, and it lifts, it excludes the air from 
the pump barrel and suction by the atmospher¬ 
ic pressure on the water outside of the suc¬ 
tion. 

Ques. 17:—If your air chamber filled with 
water while working at the river, how 
would you get rid of it? 

ANS. :—I would stop the engine and lift 
suction out of the water. By doing so I 

12 


would let the water out of air chamber. Then 
I would drop the suction overboard and start 
up the engine. 

Ques. 18:—What would be a good way to 
see if your pump were in good order? 

ANS.:—In order to test the power and con¬ 
dition of the fire engine, let the boiler pres¬ 
sure be about 60 pounds. Screw up the relief 
valve. Close the discharge gate while the 
engine is pumping water, and let the throttle 
remain wide open, and if she is in good con¬ 
dition she will stop after a few strokes and 
the pressure will rise rapidly on the water 
gauge. If the engine continues the work and 
stops on the center, and pressure on the water 
gauge does not rise, it is evident there is a 
leak somewhere, either in the pump casing or 
the pump packing. 

Ques. 19:—How would you place your re¬ 
lief valve in your pump? 

ANS.:—In the position that separates the 
suction and discharge chamber. 

Ques. 20:—Suppose you are working at 
the river, and you got air trapped in head 
of pump, how would you remedy it? 

ANS.:—By opening the air cocks on head 
of pump, or if the pump has no air cocks, 
speed up the engine and drive out through 
the discharge gate. Don’t speed engine so as 
to let her race. Or, you can open, or shut 
your relief valve, or churn valve, at intervals. 
That will soon drive out all the air in the 
head of the pump. 

Ques. 21:—Of what benefit is the vacuum 
chamber while working at a hydrant, or 
working at the river? 

ANS.:—At the river it acts as a reservoir 
to the pumps, and helps to . hold the water 
to the pump. At a hydrant it acts as an air 
chamber. The water does not fill the vacuum 
chamber at the river or hydrant. 

Ques. 22:—How would you try your 
pump valves without water? 

ANS.:—To try suction valves, I would take 
off suction cap, reverse it against the suction, 
open discharge gate, and start up engine. If 
the cap holds to suction your suction valves 
are all right. To try discharge valves, take 
off suction cap, close discharge gates, start 
engine and work up a pressure of about 15 
or 20 pounds on pressure gauge. If she shows 
the pressure, your discharge valves are all 
right. 

Ques. 23:—What is the object of the 
chamber on the pump? 

ANS.:—The air is on the discharge side of 
the pump, and when the engine is working it 
forces the water about halfway up the air 
chamber. The rest of the chamber is filled 
with compressed air. When the plunger reach¬ 
es the end of the stroke, the time lost re¬ 
covering is filled by the air chamber, which 
forces the water to the line with the same 
pressure that the plunger would. By the. ac¬ 
tion of the compressed air the chamber gives 
a steady stream on the line. 


Ques. 24:—Suppose on arriving at a 
double hydrant, the caps were lost off the 
large opening and the thread on the small 
was burred, what would you do? 

ANS.:—Place the suction cap from my en¬ 
gine on the large opening and the portable 
Bonner nipple on the small one, making sure 
to screw her up tight. 

Ques. 25:—What is the area of your 
pump? 

ANS.:—About one-third the area of your 
steam cylinder. 

Ques. 26:—If the plunger is one-half the 
stroke of the engine, what would the diam¬ 
eter of the plunger be? 

ANS.:—One-third the diameter of the en¬ 
gine cylinder. 

Ques. 27:—How should a valve lift to 
clear itself? 

ANS.:—About one-fourth of its diameter, 
or one-third of its area. 

Ques. 28:—State the usual area propor¬ 
tion of the cylinders of a steam pump. 

ANS.:—The steam cylinders average three 
times the area of the water cylinders. 

Ques. 29:—What kind of a fire would 
you keep in a boiler? 

ANS.:—A light, clean fire, not over five 
inches. 

Ques. 30:—How should a boiler be cared 
for? 

ANS.:—It should be blown through blow- 
off cock in leg of boiler, with about 20 pounds 
of steam, so as to remove all sediment from 
inside of boiler. 

Ques. 31:—Why would it not be advis¬ 
able to blow down a boiler with 80 pounds 
pressure? 

ANS.:—Because the contraction would be 
so sudden it might cause the boiler to leak. 

Ques. 32:—How should the tubes be 
cleaned? 

ANS.:—After hard working fires, or after 
five hours’ steady work, they should be cleaned 
with tube brushes or with steam thaw hose, 
taking off the crown and cleaning tubes thor¬ 
oughly to give better heating surface and to 
generate steam more rapidly. 

Ques. 33:—What conducts steam to the 
engine? 

ANS.:—A dry pipe connected about one 
inch from the upper tube sheet. It runs from 
the boiler to the steam chest of engine. 

Ques. 34:—Where is the exhaust pipe lo¬ 
cated? 

ANS.:—In the center of smoke box, near 
the upper tube sheet. 

Ques. 35:—What is the object of the ex¬ 
haust? 

ANS.:—To relieve the cylinders of dead 
steam and to regulate the draft in smoke 
pipe. 


13 


Ques. 36:—What ir> the throttle valve at¬ 
tached to? 

ANS.:—To the dry pipe, between the boiler 
and steam chest of engine. 

Ques. 37:—What is “foaming,” and what 
are its causes? 

ANS.:—Foaming is an agitation of the wa¬ 
ter. It js caused by greasy, dirty or salt 
water being fed to the boiler and causing it 
to rise above its proper level. 

Ques. 38:—Why are stay bolts placed in a 
boiier? 

ANS.:—To keep the boiler from collapsing. 

Ques. 39:—What is the exhaust nozzle? 

ANS.:—It is a casting in the center of boil¬ 
er, and runs upward into the stack, with one 
to four openings. In these openings are plugs, 
conical in shape, which are worked by a lever 
on outside of boiler. The steam goes up and 
around these plugs. The exhaust runs the 
steam chest to the bottom of these castings. 
Its object is to force the fire and make steam 
quickly, and then when you have steam enough 
open the plugs and she will run free with an 
open exhaust. 

Ques. 40:—What is a steam jet and how 
used? 

ANS.:—It is a small pipe running from 
steam chest over the top of boiler and into 
the stack. The ends which project into the 
stack are slightly reduced in size, so that you 
can give the steam greater force. Its object 
is to force the fire and make more steam while 
the engine is not working. 

Ques. 41:—What is expansion? 

ANS.:—Any swelling in surface or bulk. 

Ques. 42:—What is a slide valve? 

ANS.:—A valve that regulates the entrance 
and exhaust of steam in the cylinders. 

Ques. 43:—In what position is the piston 
in cylinder when the slide valve has closed 
both ports? 

ANS.:—About 14 inch from either head, 
top or bottom. 

Ques. 44:—What lead does the slide valve 
have? 

ANS.:—1-32 at the top, and 1-16 at the 
bottom. 

Ques. 45:—Why do they give the greater 
lead at the bottom? 

ANS.:—So as to counteract the weight of 
the machinery. 

Ques. 46:—You are an Engineer of 
steamer and have just tested an engine and 
found that it is in need of repairs. Write 
out a report mentioning at least three de¬ 
fects requiring attention, such as may occur 
to an engine that has seen considerable 
usage. Sign your name John Doe. 

ANSWER:— 

New York, March 22, 1913. 
To the Commanding Officer, 

Engine Co. No. 300. 

Sir: 

While operating first size La France En¬ 
gine No. 123, at signal station in front of 


Company quarters at 10 A. M. to-day, I find 
it necessary to have the following repairs 
made (candidate can choose as many as he 
pleases) : 

The wrist pin on end of one of the con¬ 
necting rods is worn, and should be replaced 
by a new one. 

Right-hand flywheel came off, caused by key 
not being properly fitted to keyway. Should 
be replaced by a new one. 

Bolts on connecting arm are loose and 
worn. New ones needed. 

Lost motion to be taken up on eccentric 
rod. 

Unions on steam pipe and on exhaust pipes 
need to be packed. 

New drip needed on steam pipe. 

Firebox door leaking. 

Both discharge gates need repairing. 

Throttle valve leaking at the stem. 

Top leaves on rear axle broken. 

Guides on feed pump should be taken up. 

Very respectfully, 

JOHN DOE. 

NOTE.—The Commanding Officer makes 
out a requisition for the required repairs and 
forwards same through the regular channels 
to the Chief of Construction and Repairs in 
charge of the Repair Shops. 

Ques. 47:—What is clearance? 

ANS.:—An unoccupied space between the 
piston and cylinder head when the crank is 
at dead center. 

Ques. 48:—What is meant by the throw 
of the eccentric? 

ANS.:—The travel that it imparts to the 
valves. 

Ques. 49:—What is the obect of the fly¬ 
wheel? 

ANS.:—To equalize the motion. 

Ques. 50:—What is the object of the slide 
valve ? 

ANS.:—To admit steam to the piston at 
such times as its force can be used in propel¬ 
ling it, and to relieve it when pressure in the 
cylinder is no longer required. 

Ques. 51:—What is lap and its benefit? 

ANS.:—It denotes the amount of the edge 
of the valve. extending over the part when 
the valve is in the center of its travel, and 
to secure the benefit of working steam ex¬ 
pansively. 

Ques. 52:—-What is the object of lead? 

ANS.:—It is to enable the steam to act as 
a cushion against the piston before it reaches 
the end of its stroke, and also to supply steam 
of full pressure to the piston the instant it has 
passed the dead center. 

Ques. 53:—What is meant by the valve 
seat? 

ANS.:—The surface which contains the 
parts on which the valve moves. 

Ques. 54:—What is the valve face? 

ANS.:—The surface of the valve that 
moves on the valve seat. 


14 


Ques. 55:—What is meant by the stroke 
of the valve? 

ANS.:—It is the distance it moves on the 
face to give the proper opening to the ports. 

Ques. 56:—What is lead of a slide valve? 

ANS.:—It is the amount of opening the 
port has (in the steam end) when the engine 
is on dead center. 

Ques. 57:—What is the vacuum chamber 
for? 

ANS.:—To steady the steam on the suc¬ 
tion side of the pump. 

Ques. 58:—How would you set a slide 
valve? 

ANS.:—Place the engine on top center, dis¬ 
connect the eccentric strap, throw eccentric 
ahead, take off cover of oil cups on cylinder 
head, and open throttle slightly. Also open 
cylinder drips, and if steam comes from them 
the valves are set as well as you can get them 
under steam. 

Ques. 50:—What is compression? 

ANS.:—Compression is the term used to 
express the distance the piston moves in the 
cylinder, after release or exhaust has taken 
place and the exhaust passage is closed by the 
return stroke of the valve. Thereby commu¬ 
nication is cut off from the exhaust port, and 
at the end of the cylinder compression takes 
place between the piston and cylinder head at 
each end of the stroke. The distance from 
the end of cylinder which it takes depends on 
the amount of lap on the valve. 

Ques. 60:—If the house watchman called 
you at 2 A. M. and told you there was no 
steam on engine and that it was not circu¬ 
lating, what would you do? 

ANS.:—Seeing no steam on gauge, shut off 


the plug cock on heater pipe connection and 
let the vacuum off the boiler by opening a 
gauge cock. Then go into the cellar and locate 
the trouble. If the coil is all right, go up¬ 
stairs and open the plug cock. 

The object of shutting off cock is not know¬ 
ing whether coil is hot or not. It is the means 
of throwing the cold water in engine into 
the hot coil, and it would burst. The trouble 
was simply that the boiler was vacuum bound, 
caused by allowing the fire in heater to get 
low. 

Ques. 61:—If your engine on the heater 
did not circulate then, where would you 
look for the trouble, and how would you 
remedy it? 

ANS.:—If the water in boiler does not cir¬ 
culate on the heater and is not from the cause 
stated in the foregoing, it may be that the 
vertical check valve is caught up. The first 
thing to do is to examine the coil, and if you 
find it is red or hot, go up and shut off the 
plug cock on back of heater connection on 
engine. 

Keep up the lever that passes through the 
floor. Go down into the cellar and shut off 
the valve on the circulating tank, for safety, 
and pull your fire out of stove after the coil 
cools. 

Look for the trouble, which must be in the 
vertical check, or in the three-way cocks, or 
in heater coil. 

After you locate the trouble you may push 
the lever down, open the valve on circulating 
tank, let the water flow through the coil, start 
a fire in the stove, through the circulation on 
the engine by pulling the lever up, open the 
plug cock on engine, open a gauge cock to let 
out vacuum that may be in boiler, and listen 
to hear the boiler circulating. 


15 


FIRE LIEUTENANT (ASSISTANT FOREMAN) 


Answers to Examination Questions and Specimen Ques¬ 
tions, New York City, New Jersey and Chicago. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n. 
FIRE LIEUTENANT. 

(Special examination.) 

Date: May 20, 1915. 
ADMINISTRATION—Weight 6. 

ANSWERS BY DEPUTY CHIEF 
PATRICK MAHER. 

In Charge of 11th Division, N. Y. Fire Dept. 

Ques. 1:—A building 100 feet high, called 

A, stands at the S. E. corner of N street and 
avenue R. Opposite A and across the ave¬ 
nue, which is 90 feet wide, is a building 88 
feet high called B. and across N street. 60 
feet wide, is a building 70 feet high called 
C. There is a hydrant 70 feet from B and 
another 100 feet from C. Each building has 
its appropriate standpipe. A fire is raging 
in A. You wish to fight the fire from the 
tops of B and C. An engine stands at each 
hydrant. Explain how you will proceed in 
placing apparatus used, making connections, 
and state what pressure you will order at 
each engine that you may get most effective 
results. Show how you would figure loss of 
pressure from one engine to top of building 

B, and from other to top of C. Assuming 
that you get a pressure of 60 lbs. to the inch 
at the nozzle on B and 70 lbs. at the nozzle 
on C, what pressure is given at each engine? 

ANS.:—To get to work on building B: 

Connect engine to hydrant with 454-inch 
suction; stretch two 3-inch lines from the en¬ 
gine to the Siamese connection on the stand¬ 
pipe—100 feet each—connect these lines to 
Siamese on standpipe, taking care to see that 
the Siamese connection is in good order and 
supplied with a good washer, and also that it 
is the one leading to the standpipe required. 

Take the following tools to the roof: Roof 
rope, axe, paradox and perfection pipe hold¬ 
ers, increaser from 254-inch to 3-inch, one 
length of 3-inch hose with a 154-inch open 
nozzle. 

The roof rope to be used in case of emer¬ 
gency. 

Axe to open doors or remove obstructions. 

Pipe holders to be used according to con¬ 
ditions on the roof. 

Increaser to build up 254-inch connection on 
the roof. 

Hose and nozzle for lead line to edge of 
roof. 

Having the hose and nozzle in place, order 
the water started, being sure to see that all 
the connections leading from the standpipe 
on the floors below are closed, and that the 
valve, under the roof—placed there to prevent 
freezing—is open and the drip pipe closed. 


As the question assumes the nozzle pressure 
to be 60 pounds—which is entirely too small 
for the work required—we find that the nozzle 
discharge is 518 gallons per minute, which is 
required to be known to find the frictional loss 
in the hose, etc. 

The formula for finding the amount of gal¬ 
lons discharged through any circular orifice 
is as follows: 

Square the diameter of the nozzle, multiply 
the product by the square root of the pressure 
at the nozzle, and this product by the barom¬ 
etric pressure (usually 29.9 inches), which 
gives the flow in gallons. 

In figuring frictional losses three factors 
have to be considered, namely, the size of the 
hose, the quality of the hose and the velocity, 
quantity or pressure—all meaning the same 
thing—of the water going through. 

A rule for finding this will be given later. 
The full nozzle discharge is passing through 
the length on the roof, but is divided passing 
through the two lines leading from the en¬ 
gine to the standpipe. This must be consid¬ 
ered when figuring the frictional losses. 

The loss in height, called head, is .434 of a 
pound for every foot in height, and as the 
building under consideration is 88 feet high 
we. find, the loss by multiplying .434 by 88 
which gives 38.19 feet. 

Losses in Pressure. 

Head . 38.19 

Friction on one length of 3-ft. hose 

on roof . 11.00 

Friction on lines leading from en¬ 
gine to standpipe. 6.03 

Allowance for bends in connections. 10.00 
Add nozzle pressure. 60.00 


Pressure required at the engine_125.22 lbs. 

The same connections, hose tools, etc., 
would be used on building C, giving the fol¬ 
lowing results: Nozzle discharge 558 gallons. 

P ea d . 30.38 

Length on roof. 13.00 

Lead lines . 7.20 

Bends, etc.moo 

Add nozzle pressure. 70.00 


Pressure required at the engine... .130.58 lbs. 

. It may be that the standpipe in building C 
is more than 100 feet from the engine. If so, 
extra hose must be used. Also if the connec¬ 
tion on the roof is more than 50 feet from 
the point where the nozzle is required, an 
additional length will have to be used. 

N £ TE ‘~ In actual Practice the procedure 
would be more simple. The company would 















stretch in the lines given above, make the 
connections and take the tools to the roof. 
The Engineer would be informed of the con¬ 
ditions the company was working under and 
told to shake her up for all he was worth, 
and if he did not give at least 100 lbs. at the 
nozzle without using pencil and paper, he 
would not be worth feeding. 

Rule to find frictional loss in hose, per 100 
feet, the amount of water passing through the 
nozzle having been determined by the method 
previously given: 

Divide the flow in gallons by 250 for 2]/ 2 - 
inch hose, 300 for 3-inch hose and 400 for 
3}4-inch hose, and square the product; multi¬ 
ply this by the key number given below and 
the result will be the loss per 100 feet and 
will in all cases nearly agree with the red book 
(Fire Engine Tests and Fire Stream Tables), 
issued by the National Board of Fire Under¬ 
writers. 


2H" 3" 3 54" 

Under 600 gallons.14 8 6.5 

600 to 800 gallons.13.5 7.5 6 

Over 800 gallons.13 7 5.5 

Example: It is required to find the fric¬ 
tion loss on a line of 2*4" hose having 8 
lengths and discharging 400 gallons per 
minute at the nozzle. 


250)400(1.6 

1.6 

2.56 

250 

1.6 

14 

1500 

96 

1024 

1500 

16 

256 


2.56 

35.84 per 


143.36 lbs. for the 8 lengths. 


Example: It is required to find the fric¬ 
tional loss on 6 lengths of 3" hose discharg¬ 
ing 600 gallons per minute at the nozzle. 
300)600(2 2 4 

600 2 7.5 


4 


30.0 

3 


30.0 loss 
per 100 ft. 


90.0 loss on the 6 lengths. 

Ques. 2:—What is likely to be the effect 
of a stream of water upon lime; sawdust 
(burning); guncotton; calcium carbide; hot 
metal beams and columns; hot reinforced 
concrete; hot brownstone walls; hot brick 
walls; baled cotton; fire in a chimney; how 
would you avoid or reduce the particular 
danger in each instance? 

ANS.:—The effect of water on lime would 
be to create heat and thereby cause spon 
taneous combustion and ignition of any 
combustible material with which it might 
come in contact. Water should not be used, 
but the wet barrels should be removed and 
allowed to slack in a place where they could 
dc no harm. 

The effect of a stream of water on saw¬ 
dust on fire in a closed place might cause a 


dust explosion. The remedy would be to 
ventilate thoroughly and use water care¬ 
fully, preferably by striking the ceiling and 
letting it fall down. 

Gun cotton in a dry state will explode at 
320 degrees of heat or by detonation. If 
well soaked in water it is harmless and will 
burn without explosion. 

Water coming in contact with calcium 
carbide dissolves it and creates a gas called 
acetyline gas, which if it comes in contact 
with a light or flame will cause a violent ex¬ 
plosion. Water should not be used on cal¬ 
cium carbide, nor any light be brought into 
the vicinity where it is in a wet or damp 
state. Ventilate as much and as quickly as 
possible. 

Hot reinforced concrete will not be mate¬ 
rially affected by water, provided it is of 
good material and properly laid. 

Water applied to hot brownstone will 
cause it to crack and disintegrate; use water 
judiciously. 

Water applied to hot brick work causes 
it to spall and chip on the corners and some¬ 
times the expansion causes cracks in the 
walls. Use water same as for brownstone. 

Water applied to baled cotton will cause 
it to expand and burst the hoops, and if 
packed close in a building will force the 
walls out, thereby collapsing a building. 
Remedy is, if possible, cut holes in the floor 
to get rid of the water; cut down the walls 
at windows to let water run off and throw 
as many bales out as you can. Always look 
out for a bulge in the walls and be pre¬ 
pared to get out of the way of falling walls. 

Water applied to a chimney fire confines 
the gases (carbon monoxide) inside the 
chimney, and this gas coming in contact 
with fire causes a violent explosion in the 
chimney, often blowing out the chimney 
breast. Remedy: Use salt, sand, coal or 
any substance that, when poured down the 
chimney, will not ignite but will carry the 
soot to the bottom where it can be re¬ 
moved. 

The effect of water on hot metal beams 
and columns would be as follows: If they 
were steel or wrought iron they would twist 
and probably break; if they were cast iron 
they would crack and break. It would be 
well, if possible, to keep the stream off hot 
beams or columns. 

Ques. 3:—Explain with all the necessary 
details the difficulties which Firemen have 
to overcome when called upon to extinguish 
fires in the cellars and sub-cellars of busi¬ 
ness and manufacturing establishments. 
With a pair of sub-cellar perforated pipes 
100 feet long to be supplied as well as 6-inch 
standpipe and l>4-inch nozzle on the third 
floor, how many engines and how much 
pressure are required? Answer in detail. 

ANS.:—Presuming that I was the first 
officer to arrive at a fire in a cellar or sub¬ 
cellar of a business or manufacturing build¬ 
ing, I would be guided by the magnitude of 
the fire, size and construction of the build¬ 
ing and nature of the contents whether to 
send in an additional alarm. 


17 










Using the companies arriving on the first 
alarm, stretch in lines to cover the vertical 
openings such as stairways, elevator and 
other shafts; ventilate as quickly as possible 
by opening up elevator coverings on side¬ 
walks, removing deadlights; use a short 
ladder to break windows below sidewalk; 
get down the rear areaway by ladder and 
open windows, starting from point furthest 
from ladder. Then I would try and get 
lines down to point of the fire. In trying 
to get down into cellars or sub-cellars the 
greatest difficulty is met while passing the 
point where the heat comes off the ceiling. 
If this point can be passed quickly it may be 
possible to work on the floor underneath 
with comparative ease. If it is not found 
possible to make such an entrance to the 
cellar or sub-cellar, stretch in two lines 
from an engine and connect to the Siamese 
connection leading to the floor where the 
fire is. This can be ascertained by putting 
the hand in the Siamese connections and 
pushing back the clapper valve. The heat 
will enter the perforations in the pipes and 
pass up through the Siamese connection and 
can be easily felt. If they both show heat, 
make connections to both cellar and sub¬ 
cellar pipes; start the water, using a pres¬ 
sure of about forty pounds at the engine; 
any greater pressure is liable to break the 
pipes from their fastenings and render them 
useless. Shut down after a short time and 
see if the fire has been checked, and, if not, 
start up again. Constant attempts should 
be made to get down, and as soon as this 
can be done have the lines leading to the 
sprinklers shut down. 

In recent installments, large sprinkler 
heads have been installed which have the 
advantage of conducting the water to the 
seat of the fire and not flooding the whole 
floor as the perforated pipes do. 

If a line was required on the third floor, 
the usual method would be to stretch it in 
the usual way up the stairway and start 
the water, but the question mentions a six- 
inch standpipe. In that case, stretch two 
three-inch lines from the most accessible 
engine; connect the Siamese on the stand¬ 
pipe; take up two lengths of two and one- 
half hose and one and one-quarter inch con¬ 
trolling nozzle. Stretch the house line from 
the standpipe to the point of the fire; see 
•that all the valves leading from the stand¬ 
pipe are shut; start the water and extin¬ 
guish the fire. A pressure of about eighty 
pounds would be required at the engine. 

The two lengths and nozzle taken up are 
for emergency purposes; that is, if the house 
line should burst or be found in bad condi¬ 
tion, the house line is to be used in all 
cases, it being presumed that it is for the 
purpose of putting out fires on this floor and 
is in good condition. 

When a house line is stretched and water 
put through, it very often leaks through the 
fabric, but will take up in a short time as 
soon as the threads swell. 

The cellar fire cited may be a very bad 
one or it. may be only a trivial one. Noth¬ 
ing is said about contents, construction of 


floors, etc. It could be controlled by from 
two to four engines and two truck compa¬ 
nies. 

Ques. 4:—Describe the special difficulties 
likely to be encountered in fighting fires 
originating (a) in the “amusement zone, 
with its numerous theatres, restaurants, etc.; 
(b) in loft buildings; (c) in apartment 
houses; (d) on large piers; (e) in tenement 
houses. 

ANS.: — (a) Apparatus responding 
through crowded and congested streets in 
the amusement zone: Care must be taken not 
to have collisions or run over people. If the 
fire should be in a theatre or other place 
where a large number of people are congre¬ 
gated, avoid having Firemen rush in and 
cause a panic. Work as quietly as possible 
and try to assure the people that there is no 
danger. Don’t stretch lines in through exits 
or allow them to be blocked in any way un¬ 
til the people are all out. If panic occurs, 
get men in behind the people, if possible, 
and pull them back. Try and avoid those in 
the back tramping on those in front. Have 
all means of ventilation around the stage 
opened up as quickly as possible. 

(b) The principal difficulty met with in 
extinguishing fires in loft buildings is get¬ 
ting the doors open quickly and ventilating. 
Where fox locks are met with, if the door 
cannot be opened readily with the special 
tool that most companies carry for that pur¬ 
pose; breach a hole through the partition 
wall alongside of the door and put a hook in 
and pull the brace away, or make it large 
enough to get the pipe through. In this 
way, if bell locks are used, use the claw tool 
to wrench them off. 

If there are fire escapes on the building, 
send men up to ventilate as quickly as pos¬ 
sible. Where there are no outside fire es¬ 
capes, have a man stand on the sill of the 
window on the floor below with a belt on 
in the same manner as scaling, and with a 
long hook he can break the windows over¬ 
head, in this way releasing the heat and 
smoke on the floor where the fire is. 

Where iron shutters are met with, if they 
hang on the outside of the brickwork they 
can usually be lifted from the hinges and 
either laid on fire escapes or dropped to the 
yard or street, care being taken to have 
everything clear underneath. If they are 
hung on to the window casings it is more 
difficult to open them. A smart blow over 
the latch with an axe will cause the latch 
to spring open, and ir this cannot be accom¬ 
plished cut the heads off the rivets holding 
the latch to the shutter. 

If possible get a line to the floor above 
the fire. Ventilate this floor as quickly as 
possible and examine to see if the fire 
got through. 

(c) The difficulty in putting out fires in 
apartment houses is that the fire may be in 
a room at the end of a long private hall. 
This hall is usually charged with heat and 
smoke, which makes it difficult to reach the 
seat of the fire. Examine the floor under 


18 


the fire, which will give a good idea of the 
plan of the floor. If there is a fire escape 
that can be made use of to either ventilate 
or get a line up, use it. Ventilate the same 
as for loft buildings and have roof openings 
opened as soon as possible. 

(d) If the piers are enclosed and mer¬ 
chandise stored there, lines would be 
stretched from the land side, the same as 
for any other fire. The boats would come 
alongside and open the pier doors and 
stretch lines or use bow pipes. If the fire 
was near the end of the pier the boats would 
get on the inside of it and try and keep it 
from going up the pier. Care must be taken 
taken to keep the fire from getting under 
the pier, for if this occurs the fire spreads 
rapidly. Lines can be used from the engine 
rooms of the boats through the port holes 
to rake the underside Qf piers, or small 
boats may be used to take lines under the 
piers. 

(e) The only trouble to extinguish fires 
in tenements is with the old style tene¬ 
ments. When a fire starts in the cellar and 
gets to the stairway it spreads rapidly and 
usually mushrooms on the top floor. Stretch 
lines up stairway, put the pipe straight over¬ 
head and swing it around. This will kill 
the greater part of the fire when it can be 
followed up. At the same time get lines up 
the front and rear fire escapes, open up the 
roof as quickly as possible to get the heat 
and smoke off the stairway so as to permit 
the companies inside to get up and extin¬ 
guish the fire. 

There is very little difficulty in putting 
out fires in the new style tenements, owing 
to the fact that the first floor is fireproof 
and that there is a window in each room 
opening to the outer air. 

If a fire occurs in a cellar in this class of 
building it can readily be reached through 
stairway and windows leading from the 
inner and outer courts, and if it occurs in 
the upper apartments it can be reached 
from fireproof stairway or fire escape, or 
very often from the adjoining building. Care 
should be taken to see that fires do not get 
into adjoining buildings through air shafts 
or through roofs where there are no para¬ 
pet walls. 

Fires in woodsheds of old style tenements 
can easily be extinguished by cutting a hole 
through the floor over the fire and drop¬ 
ping a line down with a distributing nozzle 
a foot or two under the floor beams. 

Quick ventilation is a necessity and a 
great help in all classes of fires and this 
should be done by the truck companies as 
quickly as possible. 

Ques. 5:—(a) Name the various types of 
“floor openings.” Describe the dangers 
arising from the presence of floor openings 
in case of fire and state how such perils can 
be guarded against, (b) Enumerate the va¬ 
rious methods of procedure in ventilating a 
building in which a serious fire has started. 
What is the purpose of ventilating in such 
cases? 


ANS.:—(a) Stair wells, elevator shafts, 
air and vent shafts, pipe recesses. 

The dangers are that fire always has a 
tendency to burn upwards, and if these 
openings are open or unprotected the fire 
will spread from floor to floor and consume 
the building and contents if not brought un¬ 
der control. 

To guard against these perils, stair wells 
and elevator shafts should be built of fire¬ 
proof material and all doors leading there¬ 
from should be standard, self-closing, fire¬ 
proof doors. Where it is necessary to keep 
doors or windows oi this kind open, they 
should be fitted with “fusible links” so that 
in case of fire these links will melt and 
allow the doors or windows to close. 

Air shafts and vent shafts should be en¬ 
closed in fireproof material and all windows 
opening thereon should be glazed with good 
wire glass and metal frames and be fitted 
with fusible links. 

Stair and elevator shafts to be covered 
with thin plain glass having a heavy wire 
screen on the outside. The idea of the thin 
glass is that it will break from heat and 
thereby automatically ventilate the building, 
or to allow Firemen ventilating to be able 
to do so quickly. The wire mesh on the 
outside is for the purpose of preventing fire 
brands coming from other buildings or fire 
falling into the shafts and thereby spread¬ 
ing the fire. 

Air and ventilating shafts are open at the 
top, and should be covered with a wire 
screen for the reason stated above. 

Belt openings should be protected by 
metal sleeves with automatic covers which 
fall over the openings when the belt burns. 

Pipe recesses should be properly “fire 
stopped” at each floor, that is, have the 
space around the holes filled in with cement 
or other fire proof material. 

(b) The proper method of ventilating a 
building on fire is to get men to the roof as 
quickly as possible. Remove the scuttle 
or shaft covers by prying them from the 
roof intact. This can easily be done, and 
allows them to be replaced easily with little 
damage. If the fire is on the top floor and 
is considerable, a hole may be cut in the 
roof, or if there is no opening over the stair¬ 
way, a hole may be cut there to draw the 
heat and smoke from the floors below. If 
there are fire escapes in front and rear, get 
men on them and start to open windows 
from the top and work down. Always open 
the window furthest from the well hole in 
the fire escape first, so if fire breaks through 
you are not “cut off.” Opening from the 
top and working down is done for the same 
reason. 

Ventilation should be as prompt as pos¬ 
sible on reaching a fire, it being presumed 
that the engine companies are ready to use 
water as soon as results are obtained. 

The object of ventilation is to draw the 
heat and smoke away from the seat of the 
fire so as to allow the men with the pipe to 
get in and extinguish it; it also deflects or 
draws the fire through the opening and pre¬ 
vents it spreading through the building. 


19 


A very nice demonstration of this fact 
was given by Chief Dougherty in the test 
house in the Yard at Headquarters. He 
had a double, five-story, concrete building, 
built in miniature. In each building there 
was an open shaft having unprotected open¬ 
ings at each floor. All the floors were filled 
with excelsior and fires started on the first 
floors of each. One had a cover over the 
shaft at the roof and the other one was 
open-ventilated. The fire in the one which 
was closed at the roof communicated to the 
excelsior on all the floors, while the fire in 
the one which was ventilated passed out 
the roof and only slightly scorched the ex¬ 
celsior on the different floors of that build¬ 
ing. 

The Chief could cause a “back draught” 
at will in the closed building by admitting 
currents of air at the bottom. 

Ques. 6:—Discuss the fire hazards and 
the difficulties to be expected in case of fire 
and the appropriate action to be taken re¬ 
garding each of the following, stating your 
reasons: (a) Cellar containing phonographic 
records; (b) wholesale candy factory; (c) 
storehouse for moving picture films and sup¬ 
plies; (d) wholesale liquor warehouse; (e) 
fire in gas house,adjoining oil tanks. 

ANS.:—There are no special hazards in 
storing phonographic records unless they 
come in contact with flame. As they are 
made from rubber, sulphur and other chem¬ 
ical substances they give off a very bad 
smoke when on fire, which overcomes the 
Firemen very quickly. 

To fight such a fire, open up everything 
front and rear, cover all vertical openings 
with lines, then ventilate the whole build¬ 
ing, use cellar pipes front and rear, work in 
on the first floor and cut holes in the floor 
through which place distributor nozzles and 
cellar pipes. While they are working work 
in further and cut other holes and keep 
shifting the nozzles and cellar pipes until 
the fire is under control. Then go down 
with lines and extinguish the remainder. 

The fire hazards in a candy factory are 
accumulations of fine sugar dust which 
when floated in the air and coming in con¬ 
tact with flame will explode and set fire 
to the building; also in cleaning the vessels 
used in the manufacture of candy sulphuric 
acid and hydrochloric acid are used. These 
acids leave dangerous explosive gas behind 
which will explode if brought in contact 
with flame. 

If a fire starts in this kind of a building 
the sugar and glucose burn freely and melt 
and run down stairways and other openings 
in streams of liquid fire. 

Ventilate as quickly as possible. Use 
water tower and deck-pipe streams to best 
advantage. Place lines up fire escapes on 
other buildings and confine the fire as near 
the point of starting as possible. 

Moving picture films are made from nitre- 
cellouse and are very inflammable. If they 
catch fire they burn very rapidly and give 
off a highly explosive gas which usually ex¬ 
plodes and wrecks the building. 


When stored in double-walled, air-tight 
cans and away from flame, there is no great 
hazard. 

When a fire of this kind starts and any 
considerable amount of film is on hand 
loose, it spreads rapidly and. usually ex¬ 
plodes. Quick ventilation and judicious use 
of streams is the only way to extinguish it. 

Storage houses and places mentioned in 
this question should be lighted by electric¬ 
ity. No smoking or carrying of matches al¬ 
lowed. All dust and rubbish picked up and 
placed in metal self-closing cans; a suffi¬ 
cient number of water pails, fire extinguish¬ 
ers, hooks and axes be kept on hand; a 
watchman to be on duty with an approved 
time detector at all times while the factory 
is closed. 

Moving picture films and the material 
they are made from should be stored in 
double-walled air-tight fireproof cans, and 
the part of the building in which they are 
stored to be separated from the rest of the 
building by fireproof walls or partitions. 

Wholesale liquor house: The hazards are 
that an inflammable vapor rises from the 
liquors and if brought in contact with flame 
will explode and set fire to the entire con¬ 
tents, and as the barrels burn the contents 
form a liquid fire which flows down stair¬ 
ways or other vertical openings, thereby 
setting fire to other portions of the building 
or burning the men engaged in extinguish¬ 
ing the fire. 

To extinguish such a fire use water tower 
deck pipes and lines to the best advantage. 
See that adjoining buildings are properly 
protected. There is very little chance of 
extinguishing a fire of this kind after it has 
gained any headway, until it burns out. 

A fire in a gas house would be probably 
in the coal or in some break in the appa¬ 
ratus used for the storage of tar. If it was 
in the coal, drown it out with streams and 
turn the coal over, to be sure that the seat 
of the fire has been reached. If in the tar, 
bank it up with ashes, sand or clay and use 
water carefully to keep from floating it to 
other points. If the fire is near the oil 
tanks, keep streams playing on the shells to 
keep them cool, but do not throw any 
water into the tanks. If necessary, use the 
extinguishing solution kept ready for use 
in the oil yards. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES—Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—In a wholesale drug house what 
regulations must be obeyed regarding empty 
oil barrels; packing rooms and packing ma¬ 
terials; matches and lights; laboratory oper¬ 
ations; the compounding of medicinal prep¬ 
arations? 

ANS.:—Empty oil barrels: Removed as 
soon as possible and in no case to be kept 
on the premises more than twenty-four 
hours. 

Packing room: Located as remotely as 
possible from large stock of stored goods: 
floor kept free from hay, excelsior and other 
packing material during working hours. At 
the close of each day tables, floors and all 
parts of the packing room shall be swept 

20 


clean of such materials and the sweepings 
gathered into a metal box or other proper 
receptacle, which shall be kept closed at 
night. 

Matches: No person shall keep or carry 
matches in a cellar or in packing rooms of 
a wholesale drug store or drug and chem¬ 
ical house or in any part of the premises 
where volatile inflammable oils or highly 
combustible substances are stored or 
housed. No system of artificial lighting 
other than incandescent electric lights shall 
be installed or used unless of a type for 
which a certificate of approval shall have 
been issued. Cellars and basements to be 
supplied with a sufficient number of lights 
for proper illumination. Lights to have 
keyless sockets and controlled by a switch 
located at or near the door to the cellar 
with a sign reading, “Control of Basement 
Lights.” Number and location to be stated 
in the permit. Other incandescent lights 
with keyless sockets on an independent cir¬ 
cuit may be installed. 

Operation: No person shall maintain or 
operate a wholesale drug house without a 
permit from the Fire Commissioner. 

Laboratory operations: The compound¬ 
ing of medicinal preparations, prescriptions, 
proprietary articles and similar materials, or 
analyzing or testing drugs, chemicals, me¬ 
dicinal preparations, proprietary articles and 
similar materials when explosive or inflam¬ 
mable substances the required, shall be con¬ 
ducted only in a room or part of the prem¬ 
ises separated from the rest of the building 
by fireproof walls and floors having self¬ 
closing fireproof doors and windows. 

Ques. 2:—Give the provisions of the law 
regarding: The finishing of frame buildings 
now in course of construction within fire 
limits; moving frame buildings into fire 
limits; moving frame buildings from one 
point within fire limits to another point 
within such limits; repairing damaged frame 
buildings within fire limits; enlarging frame 
buildings within fire limits. 

ANS.:—The finishing of frame buildings 
now in course of construction within the 
fire limits. I know of none. 

Moving frame buildings from one point 
to another within the fire limits. Shall not 
be removed from one lot to another until a 
statement of the reason for such removal 
has been filed with the Building Department 
and a permit obtained. 

Repairing damaged frame buildings with¬ 
in the fire limits. If the damage is not 
greater than one-half the value of the build¬ 
ing exclusive of the foundation, the build¬ 
ing may be repaired; if greater than one-half 
exclusive of the foundation, it shall be taken 
down. The owner is entitled to call for a 
survey to determine whether the building is 
damaged more or less than one-half. The 
result of such survey is final and binding 
on both the owner and Building Depart¬ 
ment. This survey shall be in compliance 
with the rules laid down in the Building 
Code. 


Enlarging frame buildings within the fire 
limits. No frame building within the fire 
limits having a peaked roof shall be raised 
so as to have a flat roof, except with the 
same material as that of which the build¬ 
ing is constructed and unless the roof is 
covered with fireproof material, and when 
so raised shall not exceed forty feet in 
height; must be over twenty-five feet high 
at peak of main roof before such alteration 
is permissible. 

The above provisions apply to all parts 
of the building. Such building may be ex¬ 
tended fifteen feet front or rear to the width 
of the building, but in no case to be more 
than two-story and basement in height and 
be of the same material as the original 
building. 

If a frame building is in a row of frame 
buildings it can be increased in height to 
height of buildings adjoining. 

Where ninety per cent, of the buildings 
on a lot are frame, frame buildings can be 
built on the remaining lots. 

A one-story and basement frame dwell¬ 
ing can be raised one story. 

No frame dwelling over two stories in 
height shall be raised or alterated to be used 
for a factory, warehouse or stable. 

Ques. 3:—What regulations are in force 
to prevent the sale, use and setting off of 
fireworks in New York City? Give full 
details. 

ANS.:—No permit to be issued for stor¬ 
age or sale of fireworks in excess of $1,500, 
wholesale market value. No person shall 
sell or exhibit for sale any fireworks on 
sidewalks, streets, parks, squares, bulkheads, 
piers or other places. 

Must not be displayed in windows. 

Types which are prohibited in the City 
of New York: 

Chlorates, except chlorate of potash or 
chlorate of barium, picrates, fulminates, or 
any high explosive, or sulphur of chlorate 
mixture, bombardments or mandarines 
made of chlorate mixtures; cannon salutes, 
fireworks with match-ends, explosive mar¬ 
bles, explosive whistles, fire crackers longer 
than five inches or larger than three-quar¬ 
ters of an inch in diameter, flying cap ex¬ 
ploders, toy torpedoes larger than three- 
quarters of an inch, flying pigeons, flying 
devils, etc. Baloons carrying lighted sub¬ 
stances. 

No person shall use or discharge any 
fireworks within the city without a permit, 
permit not required for the period of twen¬ 
ty-four hours on the Fourth of July, when 
the quantity discharged does not exceed 
the market value of two dollars. 

Permits to be issued in duplicate, show 
name of holder, names of those who are to 
discharge the fireworks, and number of cer¬ 
tificate of fitness, place and time of display, 
quality, kind and value of fireworks to be 
discharged, and distance to be preserved 
between place of discharge and bystand¬ 
ers and nearby buildings. 

One duplicate to be filed with the Cap- 


21 


tain of Police in the precinct where the 
display is to take place. 

If the display is postponed for any reason 
the Commissioner may authorize by certi¬ 
fication on the original permit the time the 
display may take place. 

No person shall discharge fireworks on 
any street less than 80 feet wide between 
buildings or within 1,000 feet of any hos¬ 
pital. 

Ques. 4:—Give the regulations which are 
in force in New York City with regard to 
street fires. 

ANS.:—No fire to be lighted or kindled 
on any dock, pier, bulkhead, street or va¬ 
cant lot without a permit from the Fire 
Commissioner (fee $200). Permit may be 
granted for the purpose of lighting such 
fire in conduct of any trade or business, but 
shall not be granted for fire: within 15 feet 
of a fire hydrant; within two feet of the 
surface of any stone pavement, or two feet 
of any asphalt pavement except in making 
repairs, removing or constructing same. 

Such fire must be in charge of a compe¬ 
tent person from the time it is lighted until 
it is extinguished. 

Ques. 5:—Enumerate four (4) trades or 
businesses which require a permit from the 
Fire Commissioner, and state, in connec¬ 
tion with each, what investigation you 
would make if directed by the Commission¬ 
er to report to him on the advisability of 
granting a permit. 

ANS.:—(1) Garage; (2) kerosene oil; (3) 
gunpowder; (4) retail drug store. 

Garage.—1. That one or more persons 
connected with the business shall hold a 
certificate of fitness. 

2. That there is no person living on the 
premises except the owner or his employes, 
and in such case that the vehicles kept 
there are the property of the owner of the 
garage and are not let out for hire. 

3. That proposed storage of gasolene be 
in fire-resisting material throughout. 

4. That there is an approved oil separa¬ 
tor properly connected to sewer. 

5. That storage tanks are of approved 
pattern, properly painted, and set two feet 
below the lowest cellar within ten feet of 
such tank; that tanks are not under the 
sidewalk or beyond the building line. That 
tanks are equipped with standard filling, 
drawing off and vent pipes (except that no 
vent pipe is required for a hydraulic sys¬ 
tem), tanks to be of standard size and 
fittings and all connections made up with 
litharge and glycerine. 

6. Have standard portable tank or tanks 
for filling cars. 

7. Have standard pumps, such pumps not 
to be set below the street level. 

8. Lit by incandescent electric lights hav¬ 
ing keyless sockets, all switches to be at 
least four feet above the floor. 

9. Proper receptacles provided for waste 
and all used waste and kept therein until 


removed. If carbide is kept, must be in 
water-tight metal containers, quantity not 
to exceed 120 pounds. . 

10. Must not be located within fifty teet 
of a school, hospital, theater or other place 
of amusement or assembly, or in a frame 
building. 

Kerosene Oil.—Permit required for sale 
or storage in quantity over ten gallons, 
not to exceed 275 gallons for retail, barrels 
and other containers to be removed from 
the premises within twenty-four hours after 
being emptied. 

No oil to be kept or sold which will emit 
an inflammable vapor at a temperature be¬ 
low 100 degrees. 

Gunpowder in hardware stores: Not 

more than fourteen pounds to be kept or 
stored in a receptacle that can be flooded 
from the outside of the building or in a 
metal receptacle securely locked and on 
wheels, plainly marked ‘‘gunpowder” and 
located not more than ten feet from and 
directly opposite the street entrance. Prem¬ 
ises must not be used for dry cleaning, 
garage, storage or sale of any combustible 
mixtures, inflammable mixtures, nitro-cel- 
lulose products, oils, fats, paints, varnishes 
or lacquers or any volatile inflammable oil. 

Retail Drug Stores.—Building or any part 
thereof must not be used for dry cleaning 
or dyeing establishment, garage, storage or 
sale of any combustible mixture, paints, 
varnish or lacquers. Submit a schedule of 
the quantities of drugs to be kept on hand, 
which quantities must not exceed the sched¬ 
ule laid down in the ordinances of the City 
of New York, except by special permit. 

Must not store chemical affinities in close 
proximity. Shall not manufacture, com¬ 
pound, store or dispense volatile inflam¬ 
mable oil except in compliance with the 
ordinances of the City of New York. 

Shall remove all boxes, excelsior, etc., 
at the close of the day. Cellar and base¬ 
ment to be lighted by incandescent electric 
light with keyless sockets, switches to be 
placed on the grade floor. 

Ques. 6:—(a) State fully what is meant 
by a special permit; (b) by whom and un¬ 
der what circumstances may such a permit 
be issued; (c) enumerate four distinct class¬ 
es of operations for each of which a special 
permit is required. 

ANS.:—(a) The written authority of the 
Fire Commissioner: 

To conduct a given business, occupation, 
trade or industry in a manner not specifi¬ 
cally provided for in the ordinances when 
the circumstances and conditions surround¬ 
ing such business, occupation, trade or in¬ 
dustry make it impracticable to comply with 
the general regulations otherwise applicable 
thereto; or to store, keep, transport, sell 
or use of a given article or thing in excess 
of the quantity specified in the ordinances. 

Also includes certificates of fitness and 
certificates of approval. 

(b) By the Fire Commissioner: For the 
continuation of any business, or the storage, 


sale or use of any article, apparatus or 
thing which was originally authorized by 
a permit issued under the regulations in 
force January 1, 1912, or may waive the 
provisions of existing ordinances, or parts 
thereof in sparsely populated districts; also 
when the circumstances, conditions, limita¬ 
tions or surroundings of any business oc¬ 
cupation, trade or industry are unusual or 
such that it is impracticable to enforce all 
regulations otherwise applicable thereto. A 
special permit may be issued with such 
modifications or requirements as may be 
deemed proper. 

(c) 1. Refining, distilling or manufactur¬ 
ing petroleum or other mineral oils. 

2. Keeping for sale or storing volatile 
oils or calcium carbide in a motor vehicle 
repair shop. 

3. To have or keep portable gas genera¬ 
tors on any premises. 

4. For storage of excess quantities of 
drugs in a wholesale drug house. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—Enumerate four cases in which 
the commanding officer of a company is re¬ 
quired to make a special report (other than 
reports of inspections of buildings), and 
state in each case the superior to whom 
such report should be addressed. 

ANS.:—1. Report to the Chief Instruc¬ 
tor, head of the Fire College or any of the 
various schools, showing the transfer, resig¬ 
nation, dismissal, absence for any cause, ex¬ 
cuses, etc., of officers or members assigned 
to such college or schools. 

Report to be made to Chief Instructor 
or officer in charge of the school. 

2. Where driver of U. S. mail wagon 
drives over hose unnecessarily, give wheth¬ 
er his designation was inside the fire lines 
and the direction he was going. To the 
Chief of Department. 

3. The effects of inferior fuel when used 
at fires on the steaming of boilers, give 
from what depot obtained, also inferior 
gasolene and its effect on motors. To the 
Chief of Department. 

4. In case of assault committed by mem¬ 
bers of the Department, immediately notify 
the Chief of Department by special report, 
also a written report through the regular 
channels. 

Ques. 2:—With regard to fire horses, 
what are the important regulations regard¬ 
ing: exercise, arrival at and care during a 
fire, driving to and from a fire; shoes, har¬ 
ness and bits, unfitness for service? In 
each case give two rules and state the dam¬ 
age likely to occur if the rule is not ob¬ 
served. 

ANS.:—Exercise: No provision made in 
the present Rules and Regulations. 

Arrival at and care during a fire: No 
provision in the present Rules and Regu¬ 
lations. 


Driving to and from a fire: None, ex¬ 
cept Section 49 states properly drilled and 
handled. 

Shoes: When required, notify the Divi¬ 
sion of Horses, Section 63. 

Harness and bits: To be under the di¬ 
rection of the Veterinarian. 

NOTE:—This question was evidently 
taken from the Rules and Regulations of 
1905, which has specific duties laid down 
under those headings, but under the present 
Rules and Regulations (1912) the above 
provisions are all that can be found. 

Ques. 3:—What special care do the rules 
call for in the case of each of the follow¬ 
ing: Nozzles; couplings; steel cables; life 
nets; axles; hose. 

ANS.:—Nozzles.—Too much care cannot 
be taken of the nozzles, as a slight dent or 
rough surface in the nozzle at the discharge 
opening will prevent the delivery of a solid 
stream. After working salt water, the hose, 
pipes and nozzles shall be washed out with 
fresh water. 

Couplings and swivels must be examined 
and kept in perfect order and fitted with 
proper washers. Care must be taken 
against denting of couplings. After salt 
water is used they should be cleansed with 
fresh water. 

Steel cables, life nets and axles.—Once 
each week, while cleaning quarters, remove 
all wheels of the apparatus and grease the 
axles, first wiping off the old grease from 
the axle arms and wheel boxes. New axles 
shall be examined and, if necessary, greased 
after each run, for the first three months 
of use. Lubricate all steel cables with raw 
linseed oil to prevent their rusting. Have 
all life nets tarred at least once a year. 

Hose shall be suspended by the male 
coupling. Fabric hose shall not be allowed 
to remain on wagons longer than neces¬ 
sary. Wet and damp hose shall be hung 
up in tower as soon as possible, and if 
dirty, shall be scrubbed clean with broom. 
Report on bursted hose or hose that is run 
over by vehicles. Replace damp or wet 
hose on wagons with dry hose. 

Ques. 4:—Give a full and accurate descrip¬ 
tion of the manner in which the Fire De¬ 
partment obtains records concerning unsafe 
and insecure buildings in all sections of the 
city. 

ANS.:—Company commanders shall pe¬ 
riodically inspect and familiarize themselves 
with every building, place or premises in 
their districts and keep a department rec¬ 
ord in the Building Record Journal, de¬ 
scribing them; and shall acquaint officers 
in command at fires in their districts of all 
dangerous conditions (theaters shall not be 
inspected during performances). Shall 
make detailed separate written reports of 
each unsafe building, stating violations of 
laws or ordinances, giving section covering 
violations, date of erection of building and 
the street and number on the back of the 
report. 

Shall upon the 15th day of April and Oc¬ 
tober each year forward through the regu- 


23 


lar channels a detailed report of the build¬ 
ings, places and premises, as set forth in 
the forms issued by the Department. 

In addition, they shall cause an inspection 
to be made by an Officer, Engineer or Fire¬ 
man of all buildings in their districts once 
a month, for the purpose of providing all 
possible protection to life and property 
against fires and to co-ordinate with the 
Bureau of Fire Prevention. 

During any of these inspections, if any 
unsafe or insecure building or condition 
is discovered, a verbal and written report 
will be forwarded as soon as possible. 

NOTE:—This being a question on Rules 
and Regulations of the uniformed force, 
does not call for a description of inspec¬ 
tions by the Bureau of Fire Prevention.) 

Ques. 5:—Explain in detail the precau¬ 
tions that are taken by the Fire Department 
in order that the fire hydrants throughout 
the city may at all times and under all cir¬ 
cumstances be in a workable condition. 

ANS.:—Company commanders shall cause 
an inspection to be made of all hydrants 
in their districts between the 5th and 10th 
of each month, and daily during the winter 
months if necessary, and forward a report 
thereon on or before the 10th of each month 
showing number and kind of hydrants; lo¬ 
cation of new ones, and those removed and 
not replaced since last report Shall keep 
record maps up to date. Shall see that 
snow and ice are removed from around hy¬ 
drants. Special reports shall be made of 
hydrants placed or removed, giving loca¬ 
tion, viz., side of the street and distance 
from the corner. 

Shall send a detailed report of hydrants 
needing repairs to the officers having charge 
of the same in their districts, and if not 
repaired within a reasonable time send a 
report to Headquarters. 

Shall immediately report the turning on 
of water in new hydrants and see that all 
hydrants are properly oiled and in condition 
for immediate use. 

Shall, during the cold season after using 
a hydrant, close the valve tightly and draw 
the remaining water off with a hydrant 
pump; in all single hydrants (except New 
York pattern) and hydrants that are not 
connected with drain or sewer, place a quan¬ 
tity of rock salt in stock to create a brine 
to prevent freezing. 

Shall inspect hydrants shortly after be¬ 
ing used with a view to ascertain whether 
they are in good condition, and thaw them 
out with steam from the engine when nec¬ 
essary. 

Verbal notice shall be given to contrac¬ 
tors or others obstructing hydrants to re¬ 
move the obstruction forthwith, and if not 
complied with reports shall be forwarded. 

REPORT. 

Ques.:—Write a report of about 250 words 
addressed to yout superior officer, on the 
subject of Fire Alarm Systems. Discuss 
the importance of a proper system; the 


defects of the present system; dangers to 
which the city is exposed at the present 
time, which might be eliminated by im¬ 
proved system; question of expense; effect 
on insurance rates, etc. Make recommen¬ 
dations which seem to you advisable and 
proper. 

Do not sign this report with any name, 
number, initials, title or any mark of any 
kind; if you do you will be disqualified. 

ANSWER: 

New York, May 20, 1915. 

John Kenlon, 

Chief of Department. 

Sir:—In compliance with your instruc¬ 
tions to render you a report on the sub¬ 
ject of Fire Alarm Systems, the importance 
of a proper system, defects of the present 
system, dangers to which the city is ex¬ 
posed at the present time which might be 
eliminated by an improved system, ques¬ 
tion of expense, effect on insurance rates, 
etc., I respectfully report as follows: 

In the early days of the Fire Department 
alarms were sent out by ringing bells in 
fire towers located in different parts of the 
city, where men were stationed day and 
night to watch out for fires, and upon dis¬ 
covering one they struck a number on the 
large bells, which indicated the location of 
the fire. When this number was struck 
the Firemen immediately went to their 
quarters, procured their apparatus and pro¬ 
ceeded to the fire. This signal also gave 
notice to theives and other lawless persons 
who, not having to go after apparatus, were 
at the fire before the arrival of the Fire¬ 
men and Police, practising their nefarious 
calling. 

In the early seventies an electrical alarm 
was devised and a number of boxes installed 
throughout the city. This device consisted 
of a circuit from the Central Office con¬ 
necting the boxes or stations. At each box 
a clockwork that, when wound with a key 
and allowed to release, would transmit the 
number of the box over the circuit. This 
was the first alarm box. It was improved 
upon from time to time, up to the present 
up-to-date alarm box. 

The principal improvements made in the 
system since its original installation have 
been the closed circuit, which if broken 
or opened at any point immediately shows 
in the Central Office, where tests are im¬ 
mediately made and the break located and 
remedied in a very short time; the placing 
of circuits underground in well-insulated 
and damp-proof cables and conduits; the 
improvement in pulling the hook, which 
winds the box, instead of using a key for 
that purpose, and the installation of a non¬ 
interfering device by which, if several boxes 
on the same circuit should be pulled at 
about the same time, each one would come 
in separately, that is, the first one would 
operate and hold up the others until it was 
through sending in the station, when the 
next one would be released and operate in 
the same manner with the other boxes. Vast 
improvement has been made in the instru- 


24 


ments installed in the Central Office for 
receiving, recording and sending alarms, 
which adds very materially to the celerity 
with which alarms are received and trans¬ 
mitted. 

The importance of the very best fire 
alarm system for a great city like New 
York needs no discussion. It is so mani¬ 
fest to all connected with fire work as to 
be of prime importance to all other branch¬ 
es. Unless a fire is quickly discovered and 
alarm sent in promptly, all your fine houses, 
apparatus, men, training, etc., are nullified. 
The alarm system should be secure against 
stormy and other kinds of weather, and 
should be simple and reliable under all con¬ 
ditions. 

The dangers to which the city is exposed 
at present are overhead circuits that are 
liable to break from weight of ice and snow, 
or wind storms coming in contact with high 
power wires, which will burn out armatures 
in all boxes and instruments on the circuit; 
the carrying of a number of circuits in a 
trunk cable on the elevated roads, where 
they are liable to destruction from break¬ 
age or contact with high power wires or 
short circuits caused by poor insulation and 
old and deteriorated cable; the use of old- 
style boxes, which, if more than one is 
pulled at about the same time on the same 
circuit, will interfere with one another and 
jumble the stations up so as to make it 
difficult, if not impossible, to receive them; 
the non-fireproof condition of the Central 
Office, where if a fire were to occur it would 
probably destroy the building; therefore 
cause complete chaos in the sending or re¬ 
ceiving of alarms of fire. 

The above-named conditions should be 
remedied by placing the Central Office in 
an isolated, fireproof building, on high 
ground, so that cables entering or leaving 
the building will not be immersed in water 
and that the compartments in which the 
receiving, recording and sending instru¬ 
ments are installed will be free from damp¬ 
ness; all circuits to be of the best material, 
placed in conduits underground, well insu¬ 
lated against leakage or dampness. Replace 
old-style boxes with modern up-to-date non¬ 
interfering boxes. 

The first cost of this kind of an installa¬ 
tion would be very considerable, but the 
system would be of such a permanent na¬ 
ture as to require very limited upkeep for 
a long term of years, and by this and its 
great efficiency would repay the city in a 
short time for the expenditure. 

The estimated cost to install a system as 
outlined above would be about $10,000,000 
for all boroughs. The Board of Estimate 
has appropriated large sums for starting a 
system of this kind, but outside of three 
Central Offices and placing a number of 
circuits in Manhattan underground, these 
appropriations have been spent in patching 
the present system. 

No doubt when a perfectly safe and re¬ 
liable system of sending and receiving 
alarms is installed, one that will be proof 


against all kinds of weather and free from 
danger of contact with high power wires, 
the insurance rates will be lowered mate¬ 
rially. 

Respectfully submitted, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
LIEUTENANT, 

Fire Department. 

Date: Nov. 9, 1912. 

(Special Examination.) 

ADMINISTRATION 
(INCLUDING REPORT). 

Weight 6. 

(To be finished by 2 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—There is a fire on the seventh 
floor of a 12-story apartment house. The 
apartment on fire is connected with rooms 
on the eighth floor, making a duplex apart¬ 
ment. There is a dangerous outside ex¬ 
posure from this apartment, the building so 
exposed being separated from the building 
on fire by a side court eight feet wide. 
There are fire escapes on this court on the 
building on fire. Assume that you are the 
officer in charge and have two engine com¬ 
panies and two hook and ladder companies. 
Explain in detail what you would do to 
extinguish the fire, how you would venti¬ 
late the building on fire and what you 
would do to protect the building exposed. 

ANS.:—When this question was given, it 
was only necessary for one story of a duplex 
apartment to be connected with stairs. Now 
(answer written in 1914) it is required to 
provide access from either floor directly to 
a stairway, which would give the occupants 
and the Fire Department access to and from 
each floor. 

I would order the first engine company to 
connect their line on the sixth floor to the 
standpipe, stretch up to the seventh floor and 
extinguish fire. The driver and the engineer 
would connect to Siamese connection in the 
street to supply an efficient stream. 

The first hook and ladder company to open 
up and make an entrance for the engine com¬ 
pany on the seventh floor, raise ladders, open 
up windows and doors on the floors above; 
and if necessary use house line on the eighth 
floor standpipe. A couple of truckmen to open 
up bulkhead and door to relieve the building 
of smoke and heat. 

The second engine company to stretch up 
the fire escape in the court up to the seventh 
floor, and keep fire from extending; and if 
possible to go to the eighth floor and keep it 
from getting outside, as the first engine com¬ 
pany would have the seventh floor under con¬ 
trol. 

The second hook and ladder company 
would send half of the company to the ad- 


25 




joining building to close windows and shut¬ 
ters, and if the building was also equipped 
with standpipes, would order them to stretch 
house line, and, if necessary, to start water 
where there was any fire, and keep fire away 
from any exposures. 

The second company stretching up the fire 
escapes would extinguish any fire and keep 
it from extending. As soon as they were 
stretched and had the water, the rest of the 
men of the second hook and ladder company 
I would use to assist the engine company in 
stretching their line; also opening up and 
ventilating the rear, and assist any of the 
occupants that may be in danger. 

The first hook and ladder company would 
do all the overhauling and cutting up after 
the fire was extinguished. 

I would take every precaution to protect 
the building exposed, by closing the windows 
and having the house line from this exposed 
building stretched to the windows and ready 
to start water; and have same supplied if 
necessary. Also, by raising sufficient ladders; 
also the aerial ladder, if there were any lives 
in danger. 

Ques. 2:—In answering the following, 
candidates will show the methods used in 
arriving at the answer given. 

There is a large fire in a building 100 
feet high from the curb to the cornice. 
The sidewalk is 10 feet wide and the street 
from curb to curb is 30 feet wide. A pipe- 
holder is placed against the curb on the 
opposite side from the fire. You are re¬ 
quired to deliver an effective stream of 
water to the top floor. You are using 300 
feet of 3-inch hose with a l^-inch nozzle. 
What is the approximate distance from the 
nozzle at the curb to the top story win¬ 
dows, allowing 10 feet to a story, what 
pressure would you require on the nozzle, 
how many gallons of water would the noz¬ 
zle discharge per minute, and what would 
be the required pressure on the engine or 
hydrant to maintain this discharge? 

ANS.:—The approximate distance from the 
nozzle at the curb to the top story windows, 
allowing 10 feet to a story, is 103 feet vertical 
height. This is obtained by adding the curb 
and street widths, which are 40 feet, and mul¬ 
tiplying this by itself, which is 1,600 square 
feet. Then deduct at least 5 feet from the 
building height, as the stream is supposed to 
enter the window, and the nozzle is also sev¬ 
eral feet off the sidewalk, which means 95 
feet. Multiply this by itself, giving 9,025, and 
the 1,600 square feet added to it make 10,625 
square feet. Then you get the square root of 
this, which gives you 103 feet. 

You would require at least 92 pounds pres¬ 
sure for a lj4-inch nozzle, discharging ap¬ 
proximately 645 gallons of water per minute. 
This is obtained by squaring the nozzle. Get¬ 
ting the square root of the nozzle pressure 
and multiplying them together, then by the 
barometric pressure, 29.7, you will have the 
gallons discharging per minute. 

The pressure that would be required on the 
engine or hydrant to maintain this discharge 
would be approximately 208 pounds. 


40 feet 
40 


1600 square feet 

95 feet (height) 

95 


475 

855 


9025 

1600 


10625 

Extract square root: 

>10625(103 feet vertical height 
1 


203 0625 

609 

93 lbs. nozzle pressure 
2.3 


279 

186 


213.9 

10 


2139.0 

5 


>10695.0(103 feet 


0695 
203 609 


.192 factor 
6 


1.152 

1.1 constant 


2.252)208.000(92 N. P. 
202.68 


5320 

4504 

9.64 


>93 

81 

1200 
1864 1116 


8400 

7656 


1.5 

1.5 

75 

15 

2.25 


26 


















2.25 

9.64 

900 

1350 

2025 


21.6900 

29.7 


1518300 

1952100 

433800 


644.19300 — 644 gals, per min. 

Ques. 3:—(a) Suppose there are eight 
lengths of 3-inch hose connecting an en¬ 
gine with a 4-inch standpipe. At a height 
of 45 feet a length of 254-inch hose leads 
from the standpipe to a window where a 
154-inch nozzle is used. If the flow of 
water is 200 gallons per minute, what pres¬ 
sure is given at the engine? Explain 
methods fully. 

(b) There is a fire on the 22nd floor of 
a 28-story building. There is one stand¬ 
pipe 6 inches in diameter with a regulation 
Siamese connection leading to the street. 
The standpipe is supplied from a high-pres- 
sure hydrant with two lines of 3-inch hose. 
The supply of water is insufficient. By 
what means could you increase the supply 
without using the house pumps? Explain 
your method fully. 

ANS.:—(a) The pressure required at the 
engine would be approximately 85 pounds. 

About 4 pounds fraction loss on each 100 
feet of 3-inch hose at a flow of 200 gal¬ 
lons per minute, and as there are 400 feet 
of 3-inch hose connected to the Siamese 
connection from the engine, there would be 
16 pounds loss (and about 5 pounds loss 
on one length of 254 -inch hose from out¬ 
let), 5 pounds loss, 19.5 pounds loss or* 
standpipe at 45 feet height, 20 pounds re¬ 
quired to discharge 200 gallons at the noz 
zle; total, 60 pounds, and it would be ad¬ 
visable to add 25 pounds friction loss, 5 
pounds for entry in Siamese connection, 10 
pounds for passing through swing check, 
10 pounds for outlet valve. 

This would make it 85 pounds at the en¬ 
gine to discharge 200 gallons of water per 
minute from a standpipe at a height of 45 
feet. 

.434 
45 feet 

2170 

1736 


19.530 (friction loss) 

(b) I would increase the supply of water 
by having two lines of 3-inch hose 
stretched to the standpipe, and have one 
connected on the second floor outlet and 
the other on the third floor outlet by ob¬ 
taining two increasers and two double 
female connections, and have them con¬ 
nected up on each floor. Also get a short 
rope, tie two half-hitches and a binding 


knot to take the weight off the standpipe 
outlet, and tie the other end around the 
standpipe, which will give you a sufficient 
supply without using the house pump 
when the valve is opened on the outlets. 

Ques. 4:—Point out at least three Art 
dangers, and tell the precautions you would 
recommend to eliminate them, in each of 
the following industries or manufactories: 

(a) The handling of coal cargoes; (b) 
Goap factories; fc) oil cloth and linoleum 
establishments; (d) grain elevators; (e) 
paper mills. 

In stating the danger attendant upon 
each of the above do not repeat the same 
danger in any two instances. 

(NOTE:—It is more difficult than was 
perhaps anticipated by the Examiners to 
comply with the requirement not to rp 
peat the same danger, and for that reason 
the question as put is hardly fair. To an¬ 
swer this question properly requires a 
technical knowledge beyond what can fairly 
be expected of a Fire Lieutenant candi¬ 
date. For purposes of instruction the fol¬ 
lowing answer, taken largely from Von 
Schwartz’s “Fire and Explosion Risks,” is 
given, but a Fireman in an examination 
room could hardly evolve such an answer.— 
EDITOR.) 

ANS.:—(a) 1. The presence of pyro¬ 

phoric substances.—Oily or greasy waste 
may gain access to the coal heaps, either 
by carelessness, accident or the instru¬ 
mentality of rats, mice or cats. Where the 
coal is very dusty, danger of spontaneous 
ignition is great. The remedy is to be¬ 
stow the greatest care on the storage and 
treatment of all oily or greasy substances, 
however worthless, and the same should be 
burned up daily. 

2. Weathering.—When coal is raised 
from the pit and exposed to air it parts 
with its natural moisture; the surface 
cracks and the pores open, atmospheric 
oxygen being thereby admitted to the in¬ 
terior of the lumps. The coal thus 
weathers and crumbles away, and much 
coarse dust is formed, and the risk of spon¬ 
taneous ignition is augmented. 

This weathering tendency can be coun¬ 
teracted by blowing steam into the storage 
heaps or by coating the lumps of coal with 
resin or coal-tar pitch. The resulting gen¬ 
eration of heat, however, brings other 
dangers. . Water is better than steam for 
temporarily retarding the crumbling and 
weathering of coal. All crumbly coal in¬ 
tended to be stored for any length of time 
should be damped superficially, but only 
just enough to prevent access of air; not 
wetted. When strong pyritic coal is in 
question, damping process must be omit¬ 
ted, since moisture and pyrites in conjunc¬ 
tion largely contribute to spontaneous igni¬ 
tion. 

3. Applied Heat.—Even moderate heat 
(85 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit), when pro¬ 
tracted, tends to decompose coal and favors 
spontaneous ignition, pyritic coal in par¬ 
ticular suffering extensive decomposition. 
Dangerous heat supplied by steam, hot air, 






and hot water pipes, flues for the convey¬ 
ance of heated vapors or gases, hot walls, 
remote sources of heat, stones and cinder 
heaps. Coal that is to be stored for any 
length of time must be situated at least 
20 feet away from such dangerous objects. 

(b) Dangers are in the rendering and 
purifying of fat and fattv waste, in that 
there is a chance of the material boiling 
over and catching fire. Great care must 
be taken to prevent boiling over. The 
use of supplementary inflammable ma¬ 
terials, such as benzol, ether, oil of tur¬ 
pentine, alcohol, etc., in the preparation 
of special soaps. Contact with flame or 
fire must be avoided. 

High temperatures created in the con¬ 
version of fat into fatty acids and glycerin, 
in the distillation of fatty acid*s, and in 
distilling glycerin. The addition of resin 
to soap lyes is a very dangerous operation, 
owing to the possibility of very violent re¬ 
action. The risk may be diminished by add¬ 
ing resin in a very finely divided condition. 
A stock of fine sand should be kept in read¬ 
iness. Great care must be taken in apply¬ 
ing heat necessary for conversion. 

(c) Painting the fabric with linseed oil, 
varnish, resin solutions, lampblack and oil 
paints sometimes gives rise to spontaneous 
ignition. The drying process, which is ac¬ 
celerated by the addition of carriers of oxy¬ 
gen, and the rolling of the finished cloth 
with steam-heated rollers, present dangers. 
The final drying, in special rooms, at a 
temperature of 100-140 degrees Fahrenheit 
sometimes heated with waste furnace gases. 
The atmosphere of these rooms is in the 
highest degree explosive, and the slightest 
spark from the heating pipes may have dis¬ 
astrous results. Such rooms must be of 
perfectly fireproof construction; the vapors 
must be conducted to a safe place by means 
of efficient ventilating appliances. The risk 
of electrical excitation produced by the 
friction of the resinous cloths during roll¬ 
ing and drying, and also by the friction of 
the currents of drying air on the cloth. 

Danger can be obviated by humidifying 
the air of the rooms, especially in dry 
weather. This humidification must extend 
both to the air of the room (by the aid of 
waste steam), and to the flooring (by 
sprinkling), and must amount to at least 70 
per cent, of relative moisture. The em¬ 
ployment of an efficient hygrometer should 
be made compulsory in all places where 
humidification is practised, as a preventive 
of danger. 

(d) Dust accumulations, the methods of 
drying, the disposal of refuse, heating of 
machinery, etc. The heating of machine 
parts may be detected by painting them 
with pigments that change color at high 
temperatures. The rooms where dust is 
produced must be well ventilate. No. 
refuse should be allowed to accumulate. 
Protected lamps only to be used. No open 
flames or lights. 

(e) The raw materials, mostly foreign 
waste (ropes, nets, textiles, rags, paper, 
millboard, vegetable, fibers, animal fibers, 


etc.), are frequently endangered by the 
presence of greasy and oily substances 
(liable to spontaneous ignition), by matches 
and dusty substances. . 

The treatment in rag boilers and disin¬ 
tegrators is effected by the aid of steam 
pressure and rapid rotary motion. Danger 
increased when adjuncts are used that may 
corrode the boilers and vessels (caustic 
soda). 

The sulphite process is carried on by the 
aid of sulphurous acid, or calcium sulphite, 
and in such cases there is danger from the 
burning of pyrites or sulphur (in making 
the acid), and the somewhat high temper¬ 
ature (300 degrees Centigrade) of the sul¬ 
phurous vapors. Where sulphurous acid 
is purchased pure in steel cylinders, same 
must be kept away from all sources of heat 
and out of the sun, owing to the high pres¬ 
sure of the contents and the great risk of 
explosion. Where sulphite lye is formed 
as a waste product, it is often recovered 
by the aid of quicklime; this latter sub¬ 
stance must be kept strictly isolated in the 
mill, since when moistened it is capable of 
setting paper on fire. 

Another danger is the liberation of in¬ 
flammable sulphuretted hydrogen gas in the 
elimination of chlorine (used for bleaching 
the half-finished paper) x by the use of 
antichlor, and care must be taken to in¬ 
sure the safe removal of this gas, or to 
render it harmless by combustion. Sizing 
paper with resin solutions is attended with 
danger. Stringent precautions must be laid 
down in respect of the drying-rooms, on 
account of the danger arising from smok¬ 
ing, the handling of lights, heating appar¬ 
atus, flues, and sparks from adjacent flues 
or engines. 

Ques. 5:—Describe briefly, giving all im¬ 
portant particulars, each of the following: 
(a) Fireproof construction; (b) semi-fire¬ 
proof construction; (c) mill construction. 

ANS.:—(a) The walls shall be of brick, 
stone, Portland cement, concrete, iron or 
steel, in which wood beams or lintels shall 
not be placed, and in which the floors and 
roofs shall be materials as is provided in 
Section 106 of the Building Code. The 
stairs and staircase landings shall be en¬ 
tirely of brick, stone, cement, concrete, iron 
or steel. 

No woodwork or other inflammable ma¬ 
terials shall be used in any of the parti¬ 
tions, furrings or ceilings in any of such 
fireproof buildings. 

The doors and windows and their frames; 
the trim, the casings, the interior finish, 
when filled solid at the back with fireproof 
material, and the floor boards directly 
thereunder may be of wood, but the space 
between the sleepers shall be solidly filled 
with fireproof materials and extend up to 
the under side of the floor boards. 

All hall partitions or permanent parti¬ 
tions between rooms shall be built of fire¬ 
proof material and not started on wood sills, 
nor on wooden floor boards, but be built 
upon the fireproof construction of the floor 


28 


and extend to the fireproof beam filling- 
above. The tops of all doors and window 
openings in such partitions shall be at least 
12 inches below the ceiling line. 

(b) Semi-fireproof materials used in the 
construction of a building that is not en¬ 
tirely fireproof: 

The walls shall be of brick, with wooden 
floors and sleepers placed on iron or steel 
beams. The interior finish, such as the 
window frames, sashes, trim, door casings, 
etc., being of wood and treated by some 
process to render them less liable to fire. 

(c) Is a building constructed without 
concealed spaces, either in the floors, roofs 
or partitions, etc. Whatever wood is used 
is distributed in heavy masses. 

In the better class of mill construction 
there are practically no openings in the 
floors for any purpose. The stairs and 
elevators are built in towers on the outside 
wall of building, though they may be built 
on the inside, enclosed in brick walls. 

In ordinary brick buildings with heavy 
wooden floors, and floor supports (semi¬ 
mill construction), the stairs are usually 
built through the floors. 

Ques. 6:—You are the first to arrive at 
a fire which has broken out on a cold, 
windy day in an old seven-story loft build¬ 
ing built on a lot 100 feet square. The fire 
is still confined to the cellar, but there is 
a weekly newspaper printed and published 
on the third floor; a quantity of tobacco 
in the basement in another part of the 
building; a quantity of clothing on the fifth 
floor, and several printing presses on the 
two top stories. A large wholesale drug 
store adjoins on the side towards which 
the wind is blowing, and the street in front 
of the building is torn up. The fire, which 
is close to the elevator shaft, has appar¬ 
ently not made much headway at the time 
of your arrival. State in detail the observa¬ 
tions you would make, the acts you would 
perform, the orders you would give, and the 
dangers you would guard against until re¬ 
lieved by one of superior authority. 

ANS.:—The dangers to be taken into 
account would be: 

(1) Danger of fire getting up the shaft. 

(2) Danger of tobacco igniting and gen¬ 
erating a choking smoke which would pre¬ 
vent the men from working. 

(3) If the fire got up the shaft the news¬ 
paper on third floor, with paper, etc., would 
be a great hazard, as also would the cloth¬ 
ing on fifth floor. On the sixth and sev¬ 
enth floors, benzine, paper, etc., would be 
a great hazard, and if the floors became 
weakened the heavy printing presses might 
crush through. 

(4) The wholesale drug house would be 
a great hazard, because of chemicals, etc., 
but the extent of the danger would de¬ 
pend entirely upon whether it had a fire¬ 
proof wall, or a wall with openings in it. 

Stretch a line to seat of fire and try to 
keep from spreading, and if it spread in 
the direction of the tobacco play a stream 
to prevent fire reaching the tobacco. Aside 


from trying to extinguish the fire, the 
essential thing would be to cover the shaft 
to prevent spread upstairs, until help came. 

If fire attained headway, quickly send 
additional alarm. If it got outside the 
buildmg, have lines played on drug house, 
especially. in protecting any windows. 

If building was equipped with sprinklers, 
would connect with them on arrival. 

REPORT. 

Write a report of 300 words, addressed 
to your superior officer, outlining the 
course of instruction that is pursued by 
the members of the Fire Department in 
the Fire College, and justifying its estab¬ 
lishment by showing how it makes for the 
betterment and efficiency of the men and 
the service. 

(Do not sign any name, number, initials 
or title.) 

(NOTE:—The answer which follows is 
twice the required length, but is so made 
for purposes of instruction.) 

ANSWER:— 

New York, Nov. 9, 1912. 
Capt. James J. Jackson, 

Commanding H. & L. Co. No. 500. 

Sir:—I respectfully report on the course 
as pursued by members of the Fire De¬ 
partment in the Fire College. 

At the opening, the Chief Officers were 
required to attend the Officers’ School un¬ 
der rules and regulations as established 
from time to time by the Board. 

There is also an Engineers’ School for 
Engineers, First Grade Firemen and Sec¬ 
ond Grade Firemen, who upon their own 
application, approved by the Board, are 
granted permission to attend. 

There is a Probationary Firemen’s 
School, and all such members are required 
to attend.for a period of at least 30 days. 

There is a Company School, which all 
Companies are required to attend, with 
their entire complement of officers, and 
men, at such times as the Board may direct. 

The establishment of the College has 
been well justified. It was a very progres¬ 
sive move and has proven a credit to the 
New York Fire Department. Its purpose 
was to disseminate knowledge of fire-fight¬ 
ing, to establish and maintain the highest 
professional standards, and to aflford to 
men starting in the profession of fire-fight¬ 
ing the advantage of the experience of men 
who have devoted their lives to this pro¬ 
fession. 

Instructors were selected from among the 
Chief Officers who excelled in the different 
subjects provided in the courses of instruc¬ 
tion. 

Instructions at the School are given to 
sections, consisting of 25 members. 

They are required to attend 3 times a 
week, from 10 A. M. to 1 P. M. for a period 
of six weeks, and every branch of the fire¬ 
fighting, etc., is explained. 

The following are some of the subjects 
taught: 


General Fire Fighting. 

Use of Apparatus and Tools. 

Engines and Boilers. 

Gasolene Motor Engineering. 

Auxiliary Fire Appliances. 

High-Tension Electric Currents. 

Use of High-Pressure System. 

Marine Fires. 

Care of Hose and Horses. 

Sapping and Mining. 

Combustibles and Explosives. 

Fire Alarm Telegraph, including Auxil¬ 
iary Systems. 

Discipline and Administration. 

First Aid to the Injured. 

The Board having charge of the adminis¬ 
tration and instruction holds examinations 
at the conclusion of the courses, and report 
to the . Fire Commissioner the names of all 
those who have passed successfully, and 
they make such recommendations to the 
Commissioner as, in their opinion, will add 
to the efficiency of the College and the 
Department. 

The College is of great value to the De¬ 
partment, as it furnishes a clearing house 
for imparting the knowledge and experi¬ 
ence of its ablest officers. As all those who 
attend the College receive uniform instruc¬ 
tion, this conduces to uniformity of meth¬ 
ods, and will result in the whole Depart¬ 
ment working together in unison, instead 
of each officer acting according to his own 
ideas. 

It also results in members of hook and 
ladder companies obtaining instruction re¬ 
garding engines, and vice versa, and en¬ 
ables officers of companies that have only 
steam apparatus to obtain knowledge re¬ 
garding motor apparatus. 

Until the Fire College was established, 
each officer had to acquire his knowledge 
as best he could, but now all can obtain the 
benefit of the knowledge and experience of 
its best-uniformed officers. 

Respectfully submitted, 


RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight—2. 

Ques. 1:—(a) How would you determine 
through a simple inspection whether or not 
an engineer had sufficient water in his 
boiler? 

(b) What is necessary to be done with 
spare apparatus immediately after it has 
been in use? 

(c) What are the common causes why 
sprinklers and standpipes get out of order? 

(d) How is an inferior fuel to be de¬ 
tected during its use while at a fire? 

ANS.:—(a) As the water level in a tubu¬ 
lar boiler is required to be on a line with 
the 3rd gauge cock, and in the double-shell 
nest type, coil, or water-tube boilers, 2 
inches above the 2nd gauge cock, I would 
open the 3rd gauge cock and note the water 
on the water-column, then shut them off. 
Then close the water valve, which is the 


lower valve; then the steam valve, which is 
the upper valve, on the water column, or 
glass gauge, as it is called, and open the 
pet-cock, and allow the water to empty. 

Then open the steam valve, then the wa¬ 
ter valve, and close the pet-cock, which 
would show the amount of water in the 
boiler. 

(b) After using spare apparatus, and 
when returned (except when otherwise or¬ 
dered), promptly detail a man to clean the 
same at the place of deposit. Will also be 
responsible for all the implements, tools, 
etc., which were with the apparatus when 
taken to the quarters of Company, and will 
see that they are all returned; also make 
out the proper invoices and receipts. 

(c) The most common causes are that 
the caps cannot be removed. Sediment 
from the tanks, when same are washed 
out, often settles at the bottom of the hori¬ 
zontal check, and hardens there. 

Horizontal checks are sometimes placed 
on backwards, and clapper-valves broken. 

Plugs of wood left in the pipes on the 
completion of the standpipes, and jam at 
the bottom or in the outlet. 

Check valve under the tank held open 
causes pressure to go to the tank and over¬ 
flow same. 

Deterioration, disintegration and corro¬ 
sion should be guarded against to insure 
the protection which is expected of a sprin¬ 
kler installation. Dirt, dust, lint and other 
particles accumulate. 

Whitewashing, painting and gilding 
should not be permitted. 

Stacking up stock or contents to a great 
height; improper repairs, and gate valve 
under tank closed. 

(d) It generally cakes on the grate, and 
it is very hard to keep a clean fire. It in¬ 
terferes with the steaming and generating 
of pressures, which are necessary and re¬ 
quired at fires. 

Inferior gasolene can be detected by not 
performing efficiently and by not generat¬ 
ing the amount of power required. If there 
is any water in the gasolene there will be 
trouble with the carbureter, and if the gaso¬ 
lene is of an inferior quality it will carbon¬ 
ize the engine. 

Special reports shall be forwarded, stat¬ 
ing from what fuel depot or gasolene stor¬ 
age depot the fuel was taken. 

Ques. 2:—What do the rules call for re¬ 
garding the handling and treatment of 

(a) Axles, 

(b) Steel Cables, 

(c) Life Nets, 

(d) Ladders, 

(e) Nozzles, 

(f) Hose Couplings? 

ANS.:—(a) Once each week, or oftener if 
necessary, remove all wheels of the appa¬ 
ratus and grease the axles, first wiping off 
the old grease from the axle arms and wheel 
boxes. New axles to be examined and, if 
necessary, greased after each run for the 
■st 3 months. In replacing wheels, have Hs 



of an inch end play between wheel hub and 
axle nut. 

(b) All steel cables shall be lubricated 
with raw linseed oil to prevent their rust¬ 
ing, as often they have a tendency to rust. 

(c) All life nets shall be ready for imme¬ 
diate use and be tarred at least one in each 
year. 

(d) Officers shall have exclusive control 
and direction in the raising and placing of 
all ladders, and not permit their use by 
anyone before they are in proper and safe 
position. Ladders shall not be used at any 
time by any person not a regular or pro¬ 
bationary member of the Department. 

(e) Should be very careful of all nozzles, 
as a slight dent or rough surface in the noz¬ 
zle at the discharge opening will prevent 
the delivery of a solid stream. After work¬ 
ing salt water they shall be washed out 
with fresh water. 

(f) In handling hose-couplings the ut¬ 
most care must be observed. Hose shall 
be suspended by the male coupling, and 
when changing hose the couplings and 
swivels must be examined and put in 
perfect order and fitted with proper 
washers. 

Ques. 3:—Describe 5 different classes of 
reports that a company commander is di¬ 
rected to make under the rules and regu¬ 
lations. 

ANS.:—(1) Reports of buildings in his 
company district, semi-annually. 

(2) Consolidated Report, monthly. 

(3) Hose Reports, in duplicate, monthly. 

(4) Hydrant Reports, monthly, and when 
new ones are placed, the side of the street, 
and the distance from each corner. 

(5) Quarterly Requisitions, for supplies, 
and names of members detailed, with date 
when details became effective; on the first 
Mondays of January, April, July and Oc¬ 
tober. 

Ques. 4:—Explain fully what should be 
done under each of the following circum¬ 
stances: 

(a) Fireman A is suspected of selling 
small pieces of apparatus; 

(b) Fireman B is in constant domestic 
quarrels; 

(c) Fireman C endorses notes for a 
friend; 

(d) Fireman D thinks certain fire was of 
incendiary origin. 

(e) Several fireman complain that the 
heavy wagons of an ice company have been 
driven over hose stretched to a fire, caus¬ 
ing at least one hose to burst. 

ANS.:—(a) Investigate the circumstances 
thoroughly, and if I obtained any evidence 
that he was guilty, I would prefer the 
proper charges, with the witnesses; also 
make a report, and enter the facts in the 
company journal. It is larceny to sell pub¬ 
lic property. 

(b) If the Fireman did not permit his 
domestic troubles to interfere with his du¬ 


ties, I would not have any authority in the 
matter. If he committed any assault or 
breach of the peace, or any act for which 
he might be arrested, I would investigate, 
get all the facts, and prefer appropriate 
charges. Make out a Special Report to the 
Chief of Dep’t, notify the Chief of Battal¬ 
ion, and enter all the facts of my action in 
the company journal. 

(c) It is a Violation of the Rules to en¬ 
dorse a note, and if it was brought to my 
attention and he didn’t liquidate the debt, 

I would prefer charges, also make entry 
in the company journal. 

(d) Would investigate why Fireman D 
thinks the fire was 01 incendiary origin, and 
if he appeared to have grounds, I would 
notify the Fire Marshal. Assuming that 
this fire was in my company district, I 
would place a Fireman in charge of the 
premises, to remain until the arrival of the 
Fire Marshal, and give him instructions to 
prevent any disturbance whatever of ex¬ 
isting conditions, an t for him to avoid pub¬ 
licly expressing any opinions. Tell him to 
act quietly and carefully.* 

(e) I would inquire of the Firemen if the 
drivers had permission of officer in com¬ 
mand at the fire to drive over same. If 
not, why they did not have the drivers ar¬ 
rested? If they had neglected their duty, 

I would prefer charges against them, it 
having been their duty to have the drivers 
arrested for the offence, which is a misde¬ 
meanor. I would mention it in the Fire 
Report, and also make a special report to 
the Chief of Department. 

Ques. 5:—What are the duties of the 
Company Commanders in connection with: 

(a) Repairs in quarters; 

(b) Care of apparatus; 

(c) Buildings in the Company Districts; 

(d) Fire alarm boxes; 

(e) Hydrants; 

(f) False alarms; 

(g) The Housewatch? 

ANS.:—(a) Shall state in detail when for¬ 
warding requisitions for repairs to quar¬ 
ters exactly what repairs are needed, and 
a separate requisition shall be made. Com¬ 
manding Officer shall see that repairs are 
made according to the specifications called 
for in the contract. 

(b) Company Commanders shall see that 
the apparatus receive the proper care, and 
be responsible for the condition of all ap¬ 
paratus in their care. 

(c) Shall periodically inspect and famil¬ 
iarize themselves with every building, place 
or premises in their company districts, and 
keep a Department Record, in the Building 
Record Journal, describing them. Shall ac¬ 
quaint officers in command at fires in their 
districts of all dangerous conditions. Shall 
make detailed separate written report of 
each unsafe building, stating violations of 
Laws and Ordinances, giving Section cov¬ 
ering the violation, date of erection of 
building, and endorse the street and num¬ 
ber on the report. 


31 


(d) Shall inspect Fire Alarm Boxes and 
Metal Signs indicating the locations of the 
alarm boxes and keys, and forward detailed 
reports. 

(e) Shall cause an inspection to be made 
of all hydrants in their districts between 
the 5th and 10th of each month, and dur¬ 
ing the winter months daily, if necessary, 
and forward a report on or before the 10th 
of each month, showing number and kinds 
of hydrants, locations of new ones, and 
those removed and not replaced since pre¬ 
vious report. Keep record maps up-to-date. 
See that snow and ice are removed from 
around hydrants. 

Special Reports shall be made of hy¬ 
drants placed or removed, giving location, 
side of the street and distance from cor¬ 
ners. 

• Separate Maps have been provided, show¬ 
ing location of high and low-pressure hy¬ 
drants. 

Company Commanders shall forward to 
Hdqtrs. semi-annually, with regular month¬ 
ly hydrant reports, their company maps 
corrected to date for comparison with maps 
on file at Office of Chief of Dep’t accord¬ 
ing to schedule. 

Shall send a detailed report of hydrants 
needing repairs to the officers having 
charge of the same in their districts, and ] f 
not repaired within a reasonable time send 
a report to Hdqtrs. 

Shall immediately report the turning on 
of water in new hydrants, and see that all 
hydrants are properly oiled and in condi¬ 
tion for use. 

Shall during the cold season, after using 
a hydrant, close the valve tightly and see 
that the remaining water is drawn off with 
a hydrant pump in all single hydrants (ex¬ 
cept N. Y. pattern), and those that are 
not connected with drain or sewer, have a 
quantity of rock salt placed in the stock to 
create a brine to prevent freezing. 

Shall inspect shortly after they have been 
used, to ascertain whether they are in good 
condition and thaw them out with steam 
from the engine when necessary. 

Verbal notice shall be given to persons 
obstructing hydrants, and to contractors 
opening streets, to remove the obstructions, 
and if not complied with directly, reports 
shall be forwarded. 

(f) On receipt of false alarms, the Com¬ 
pany Commander first arriving at the box 
shall make every effort to ascertain the 
cause of such alarm, whether malicious or 
otherwise, and report the result to the 
Chief of Battalion. Also endeavor to de¬ 
tect and obtain evidence to convict persons 
bringing or sending false alarms. 

(g) Upon leaving quarters for any pur¬ 
pose whatever (except on an alarm of fire 
at which the company does duty), all com¬ 
pany officers shall enter or cause to be en¬ 
tered on the journal the exact time of leav¬ 
ing, the exact time of return, and in case 
of members below the rank of officer, in 
addition to the above, the purpose of or 
reason for the proposed absence. 


The reasons therefor, if any there be, in 
case the time allowed has been exceeded. . 

The character of the Department busi¬ 
ness transacted in detail. 

It shall be the duty of each officer, be¬ 
fore leaving the quarters upon Department 
business or for other reasons, to enter the 
time of leaving, and upon his return, the 
precise nature of Department business 
transacted in detail, and the time of re¬ 
turning. 

Ques. 6:—(a) A fire occurs in a buildjng 
located on an avenue over which passes an 
elevated railroad. For what reasons may 
the commanding officer shut down service 
on the road? 

(b) When the commanding officer orders 
the railroad company to stop running 
trains, what precautionary measures must 
he take, and what orders must he issue? 

ANS.:—(a) In case of fire in a building 
located on any street or avenue which is oc¬ 
cupied by elevated or other railroad tracks, 
if it is deemed necessary by the officer in 
command of the fire not to allow the trains 
to pass, either for the purpose of the force 
working from the tracks or because it 
would be dangerous for the trains. 

Xb) A danger signal will be displayed on 
each track at a distance not less than 100 
yards from the fire, and immediate notice 
will be sent to the person in charge of the 
first station in each direction that the eiec- 
tric current must be cut off and that the 
trains must not pass until, in the judgment 
of the officer in command, it is safe for 
them to do so, when the danger signals 
will be removed. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Weight—2. 

(To be finished by 5.30 P. M.) 

Ques. l:—(a) What are the requirements 
of the Building Code as to laying the 
planking and sheathing of roofs of build¬ 
ings within an area of fireproof construc¬ 
tion? 

(b) State in detail the materials that 
may be used in roofing or covering build¬ 
ings or dormer windows so as to make 
them fireproof, or as nearly so as possible. 

(c) When a Mansard Roof is to be placed 
on any building, how must it be constructed 
to conform to the law governing fireproof 
construction? 

ANS.:—(a) The planking and sheathing 
of the roofs of buildings shall not in any 
case be extended across the side or party 
wall thereof. 

(b) Every building, and the tops and 
sides of every dormer window thereon, 
shall be covered and roofed with brick, title, 
slate, tin, copper, iron or plastic slate. As¬ 
phalt slag or gravel may be used, provided 
that such roofing be composed of not less 
than 5 layers of roofing felt, cemented to¬ 
gether and finished with not less than 10 
gallons of coal tar, pitch or asphalt, to each 

32 


100 square feet of roof, or other quality 
which the Bur. of Bldge. may authorize. 

(c) A Mansard Roof having a pitch of 
over 60 degrees on any building, except a 
wooden building or a dwelling house not 
exceeding 3 stories and not more than 40 
feet in height, shall be constructed of iron 
rafters, and lathed with iron or steel on the 
inside, and plastered, or filled in with fire¬ 
proof material not less than 3 inches thick, 
and covered with metal, slate or tile. 

Ques 2:—State the conditions, if any, un¬ 
der which theatrical dressing rooms may be 
built in the fly galleries or below the street 
level. What are the regulations regarding 
their (a) exits; (b) ventilation; (c) win¬ 
dows; (d) shelving and cupboards? 

ANS.:—They may be built in fly galler¬ 
ies, provided that proper exits are secured 
therefrom to the fire escapes in open 
courts, and that the partitions and other 
matters pertaining to dressing rooms con¬ 
form to the requirements. But the stairs 
leading to same shall be fireproof. 

(a) Every theater accommodating 300 
persons shall have at least 2 exits; when ac¬ 
commodating 500 persons, at least 3 exits 
shall be provided. These exits do not refer 
to or include the exits to open courts at the 
sides of the theater. 

(b) All dressing rooms shall have an in¬ 
dependent exit, leading directly into a court 
or street, and shall be ventilated by win¬ 
dows in the external walls; and no dress¬ 
ing room shall be below the street level. 

(c) All windows arranged to open, and 
none of the windows in outside walls shall 
have fixed sashes, iron grills or bars. 

(d) All shelving and cupboards in each 
and every dressing room, property room or 
storage room shall be constructed of metal, 
slate or some fireproof material. 

Ques. 3:—To what matters would you 
give particular attention if you were de¬ 
tailed to inspect (a) furniture factories; 
(b) distilleries; (c) chemical works; (d) 
carpenter shops; (e) wholesale millinery 
establishments? In each case mention at 
least two matters of special importance, 
and give the provisions of the law or or¬ 
dinance applying to each case. Do not deal 
with the same violation more than once in 
your answer. 

ANS.:—In inspecting the various busi¬ 
nesses enumerated in the question, the spe¬ 
cial features to be looked after, beside the 
general construction of the buildings and 
premises, would be, briefly, as follows: 

(a) Furniture Factories: —Methods of 
storage and handling of waste cotton and 
other materials used in polishing the fur¬ 
niture, the use of varnishes, shellacs, fillers, 
oils, etc. Self-closing metal waste cans 
should be provided for the storage of oily 
waste and same should be removed every 
night, and preferably burned in the furnace. 
Volatile inflammable oils should be kept in 
safety cans, and in the rooms where the 


same are used there should not be used 
any flames or lights other than the electric 
incandescent lamps, with double globes 
and wire covers. The storage of oils, etc., 
is governed by the rules and regulations of 
the Municipal Explosives Commission. 
(Under a law that went into effect in April, 
1914, the Municipal Explosives Commis¬ 
sion was abolished. The Fire Commission¬ 
er now has the powers of that Commis¬ 
sion.) The accumulation of oily waste and 
refuse constituting a fire hazard and a nui¬ 
sance, Sec. 776 of the Greater New York 
Charter (the Fire Prevention Law) may 
apply to same. 

(b) Distilleries: —Article XX of the 
Rules and Regulations of the principal Ex¬ 
plosives Commission prescribes in Sec. 533 
that it shall be unlawful for any person 
to store distilled liquors, spirits or alcohol 
of any kind in excess of one barrel for each 
four square feet of floor space; further¬ 
more, barrels containing liquors, spirits or 
alcohols must not be stacked more than 
two high. In inspecting such premises the 
above precautions would be looked after, 
as well as the situation of the building as 
regards surrounding property, inasmuch as 
no permit shall be issued for the manufac¬ 
ture, distillation, rectification or storage of 
distilled liquors, spirits or alcohols, in any 
building which is situated within 50 feet 
of the nearest wall of any building occu¬ 
pied as a hospital, school, theater or other 
place of public amusement or assembly. 
The building itself must not be of wooden 
construction, and must be equipped with 
an approved fire protection system. Per¬ 
mits are required where distilled liquors, 
spirits or alcohols of any kind in quantities 
aggregating more than ten barrels of 50 
gallons each are stored. All the above fea¬ 
tures would be looked into when inspecting 
distilleries. 

(c) Chemical Works: —The methods of 
storage and handling of nitric and other 
acids. No organic substance, sawdust, hay 
or excelsior should be stored in proximity 
to nitric acid. Chemicals that are of an ex¬ 
plosive nature, or when one increases the 
energy of decomposition of the other, or 
when they are so constituted that they may 
react upon one another and become explo¬ 
sive or inflammable, must not be stored in 
close proximity to each other. Sufficient 
quantity of sand or infusorial earth should 
be provided for absorbing all waste liquids 
from floors. The storage of volatile in¬ 
flammable oils would have to be looked 
into, and no empty barrels, drums or con¬ 
tainers from which such oils have been 
taken should be allowed to remain on the 
premises, but said containers should be re¬ 
moved as soon as possible, and in no case 
should they be stored therein more than 24 
hours. Packing rooms to be inspected; 
same to be kept as remotely as practicable 
from large stocks of stored goods. Pack¬ 
ing-room floor to be kept free as possible 
from hay, excelsior and other combustible 
packing material. See that proper recepta¬ 
cles were provided for the packing mate- 


rials. See that proper provision has been 
made for the elimination of any danger 
from packing apparatus, etc. The rules 
and regulations of the Municipal Explo¬ 
sives Commission govern chemical works. 

(d) Carpenter Shops:—See that proper 
provision has been made for the shavings 
resulting from the operations on the prem¬ 
ises. These should be removed from the 
premises, or securely stowed in some safe 
place remote from danger by fire, at the 
close of each day. Fireproof receptacles 
should be provided for the same. Sec. 760 
of the Greater New York Charter applies 
to the above. Wire guards to be provided 
about open gas jets, so as to protect mate¬ 
rials from the open flame. The Labor Law 
requires the gas jets or lights to be prop¬ 
erly enclosed by globes, or wire cages, etc. 

(e) Wholesale Millinery Establisments: 
—The use of flimsy materials in the manu¬ 
facture of the articles in these establish¬ 
ments should be looked after. No clip¬ 
pings or cuttings should be allowed to ac¬ 
cumulate. Fireproof receptacles should be 
provided as called for by the Labor Law. 
See that sufficient fire appliances are dis¬ 
tributed so as to handle any incipient fire. 
The ordinance amending Sec. 762 of the 
Greater New York Charter requires such 
fire appliances to be installed as the Fire 
Commissioner may direct. 

Ques. 4:—Describe in full the methods 
adopted to prevent fires and, in emergen¬ 
cies, to save lives in (a) schools; (b) 
churches; (c) theaters; (d) dance halls; (e) 
department stores. 

NOTE:—The requirement to describe 
“in full” the methods adopted to prevent 
fires, etc., is ridiculous and could only be 
demanded by one who lacked knowledge of 
the full requirements. On this, as on other 
questions where “full” details are required, 
it would be possible to write a book. To 
give a full answer :o (c) relating to thea¬ 
ters would necessitate quoting the whole of 
Sec. 109 of Part XXI of the Building Code, 
which is 5,000 words long and which would 
require four hours by a rapid penman to 
even copy from the printed text. 

ANS.:—(a) Schools:—To have enclosing 
stairsways; providing fireproof enclosures 
about boiler rooms or so separating same 
that fire cannot spread to other parts of 
the premises; the removal of storerooms 
or stock rooms to such portions of the 
building with fireproof doors and protec¬ 
tion to openings that fires in same will not 
affect the exodus from the building. The 
fire to be confined to the portion of the 
building wherein it starts. All doors to 
open outwardly, provision being made so 
that same do not obstruct the passageways. 
The stairways to be constructed of incom¬ 
bustible materials. Fire extinguishers to 
be_ distributed about the premises. Fire 
drills. to be maintained, and an interior 
electric alarm system for prompt and 
proper notifications of alarms. 

(b) Churches:—Means to be provided 
for communicating alarms of fire, accident 


or danger to the Fire Department. Fire 
appliances, extinguishers, buckets,, axes, fire 
hooks, etc., as the Fire Commissioner may 
direct. Sufficient exits provided so that es¬ 
cape can be made provided one or more of 
the exits are cut off by fire. This will de¬ 
pend largely on the number of persons that 
congregate on said premises. Exits to be 
properly distributed. Sufficient aisle space 
to be provided. 

(c) Theaters:—The following is a rough 
outline of the more important require¬ 
ments of Sec. 109 of Part- XXI of the 
Building Code: Open courts or spaces 
around the theater, the widths of said 
courts depending on the capacity of the 
theater; widths of exits as per the capacity 
of theater, number of balconies, etc. Doors 
to exits to open outwardly. Panic bolts to 
be provided on same. Fire wall of brick, 
separating the auditorium from the sage. 
The proscenium opening to be provided 
with a fireproof metal curtain, or a cur¬ 
tain of asbestos or other fireproof mate¬ 
rial. Over the stage must be provided 
metal skylights of an area or combined 
area of at least one-eighth the area of said 
stage, fitted up with sliding sash and 
glazed with double thick sheet glass not ex¬ 
ceeding one-twelfth of an inch thick, and 
each pane thereof measuring not less than 
300 square inches, and the whole of this 
skylight shall be so constructed as to open 
instantly on the cutting or burning of a 
hempen cord, which shall be arranged to 
hold said skylights closed, or some other 
equally simple approved device for opening 
them may be provided. Immediately un¬ 
derneath the glass of said skylights there 
shall be wire netting, but wire glass shall 
not be used in lieu of this requirement. 
All storage scenery, curtains, decorations, 
etc., made of combustible material, and all 
woodwork on or about the stage shall be 
painted or saturated with some non-com¬ 
bustible material or otherwise rendered 
safe against fire. Sec. 109 of the Building 
Code also describes the portions of the 
theater to be constructed of fireproof ma¬ 
terials. All seats in the auditorium, except¬ 
ing those contained in boxes, to be not less 
than 32 inches from back to back, meas¬ 
ured in a horizontal direction, and firmly 
secured to the floor. No seat in the audi¬ 
torium shall have more than 6 seats inter¬ 
vening between it and an aisle on either 
side. The number of exits will depend on 
the number of people accommodated. 
Standpipes 4 inches in diameter shall be 
provided with hose attachments on every 
floor and gallery, as follows: One on each 
side of the auditorium in each tier, also on 
each side of the stage in each tier, and at 
least one in the property room, and one 
in the carpenter’s shop, if the same be con¬ 
tiguous to the building. Proper pumps and 
sufficient 2^-inch hose to be provided. 
Separate and distinct system of automatic 
sprinklers with fusible plugs, supplied with 
water from a tank located on the roof over 
the stage and not connected in any manner 
with the standpipes, shall be placed on 


each side of the proscenium opening and 
on the ceiling or roof over the stage at 
such intervals as will protect every square 
foot of stage surface when said sprinklers 
are in operation. Automatic sprinklers 
shall also be placed, wherever practicable, 
in the dressing rooms, under the stage, in 
the carpenter shop, paint rooms, store¬ 
rooms and property room. On the stage, 
in readiness for immediate use, must be at 
least 4 casks full of water and 2 buckets to 
each cask. Hooks, axes, extinguishers, 
etc., to be provided. Stage lights to be 
protected. . Exit signs, letters not less than 
8 inches high, to be provided over the in¬ 
side of every exit. 

(d) Dance Halls: —Safe and adequate ex¬ 
its for the number of persons to be assem¬ 
bled therein. All doors to open outward¬ 
ly or be double swinging, and should be 
equipped with approved panic bolts. Doors 
to be at least 3 feet, 6 inches in width. 
Exits to fire escapes to have doors con¬ 
structed to open at the platform level of 
the fire escapes. Stairways on fire escapes 
to extend to ground level, except where a 
counterbalance stairway is approved by 
the Bureau of Fire I'revention. Exit signs 
and lights to be provided. Decorations 
should be fireproofed. Dance halls are 
prohibited in buildings containing danger¬ 
ous occupancies or those in which large 
quantities of oils, chemicals, excelsior, hay, 
celluloid, fats or greases are stored. Scen¬ 
ery for private theatricals, etc., to be fire¬ 
proofed. Skylights or other means of ven¬ 
tilation over stage to be provided. Stage 
curtains to be made of asbestos or other 
fireproof material. Pails, extinguishers, 
hooks and axes to be distributed about. 
Chairs to be properly fastened. Sufficient 
aisle space to be provided. No standees 
allowed in aisles or passageways during a 
performance. 

(e) Department Stores: —Installation of 
an automatic sprinkler system; enclosing 
of stairways, elevator shafts and other 
floor openings by means of which a fire 
may spread; standpipe equipment, hose, 
nozzles, tank on roof, Siamese connections, 
etc., to be provided. Chemical extinguish¬ 
ers, water buckets or casks or bucket tanks, 
hooks, axes, etc. Provision for the stor¬ 
age of packing materials in fireproof re¬ 
ceptacle. Storage of paints, oils, etc., 
protected. Heating apparatus properly 
guarded, etc. Fire walls in different por¬ 
tions of the premises so as to sub-divide 
the area and confine the fire to each sub¬ 
division and prevent the spread of same to 
other parts of the building. All doorways 
provided with self-closing fireproof doors. 
Fire escapes to be provided and sufficient 
means of exit. Exit signs to indicate all 
means of egress. Interior electric alarm 
system to communicate alarms of fire to 
all parts of the premises. Fire drills to be 
installed. Sufficient and unobstructed aisle 
spaces to be provided. 

Ques. 5:—(a) Give five main conditions 
which a Fire Commissioner may impose be¬ 


fore issuing a permit to a wholesale drug 
house. 

(b) Mention the requirements as to pas¬ 
sageways and lighting of same. 

(c) Give the substance of the provisions 
of law for protection from kitchen fires in 
tenements. 

ANS.:—(a) Main conditions that the Fire 
Com’r may impose would be to note in the 
application the nature of the construction 
of the building, the space occupied, nature 
and maximum quantity of explosives and 
inflammable substances to be stored, nature 
of construction, and use of the adjoining 
buildings. 

Not issue a permit if the building is with¬ 
in 50 feet of any school, hospital, theater or 
place of public amusement or assembly, nor 
in a tenement or hotel, workshop or fac¬ 
tory, except incident to the business. Nor 
unless building is constructed of fire-resist¬ 
ing materials throughout, nor unless the 
portion of building is separated from the 
rest of the building by fireproof floors and 
walls, or is equipped with a fire-extinguish¬ 
ing system approved by the Fire Comm’r, 
must not be of wooden construction. 

(b) On each floor there must be main¬ 
tained at distances not exceeding 15 feet 
apart and not more than 15 feet from either 
wall, open and unobstructed passageways 
at least 3 feet wide, extending the entire 
length of floor, and similar passageways 
running the entire width of the floor, the 
distance between which or from walls shall 
not exceed 25 feet. No system of artificial 
lights other than incandescent, and to be 
fitted with keyless sockets and be controlled 
by a switch located at or near the entrance 
of the cellar or basement, on the grade 
floor; with sign at switch reading, “Control 
of Basement Lights.” The number of such 
lights and location to be determined by the 
Fire Commissioner. Also individual incan¬ 
descent lights may be installed as may be 
required, provided they are controlled by 
independent circuit. 

(c) All stoves for heating purposes shall 
be properly supported on iron legs resting 
on the floor, 3 feet from all lath and plaster 
or woodwork, and if the lath plaster and 
woodwork is properly protected by a 
shield, then the distance shall be not less 
than 18 inches. A metal shield shall be 
placed under and 12 inches in front of the 
ashpan of all stoves that are placed on 
wooden floors. 

All low gas stoves shall be placed on iron 
stands, or burners shall be at least 6 inches 
above the base of the stoves, and metal 
guard plates placed 4 inches below the 
burners, and all woodwork under them 
shall be covered with metal. 

When a kitchen range is placed from 12 
to 6 inches from a wood stud partition, it 
shall be shielded with metal from the floor 
to the height of not less than 3 feet higher 
than the range; if the range is within 6 
inches of the partition, the studs shall be 
cut away and framed 3 feet higher and 1 
foot wider than the range, and filled in to 


35 


the face of the stud partition with brick or 
fireproof blocks and plaster. 

All ranges on wood or combustible floors 
and beams that are not supported on legs 
and have ashpans 3 inches or more above 
their base, shall be set on suitable brick 
foundations, consisting of not less than 2 
courses of brick, well laid in mortar on 
sheet iron, except small ranges such as 
are used in apartment houses, and have ash- 
pans 3 inches above their base, and shall 
be placed on at least 1 course of brick on 
sheet iron or cement. No range should be 
placed against a furred wall. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n. 

FIRE LIEUTENANT. 

New York Fire Dep’t. 

Date: February 26, 1912. 

ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING RE¬ 
PORT—Weight 6. 

Ques. 1:—Assume that a fire has broken 
out on the 12th floor in the rear of a mod¬ 
ern twenty-story fireproof building, 100 feet 
deep, elevators 30 feet from the front. The 
room where the fire started is 50x30 feet, 
and is filled with a great deal of old desks, 
rugs, partitions and other furniture of a 
highly inflammable nature. Intense heat 
has developed before the firemen reached 
the scene and the fire had worked its way 
into adjoining offices on the same floor, 
(a) What are the special dangers to be ap¬ 
prehended from such a fire? (b) What spe¬ 
cial precautions would you take to avoid 
loss of life? 

NOTE: A Battalion Chief (whom we will 
call “A”) of undoubted ability refuses to 
recognize that in a modern 20-story FIRE¬ 
PROOF building the fire could have spread 
to adjoining rooms, and he refuses to an¬ 
swer the question under that assumption. 
The following answer was submitted to an¬ 
other Battalion Chief (whom we will call 
“B”) and to an Engineer of Steamer, and 
both agreed that his position was justified. 
The following is the answer of Battalion 
Chief “A”: 

ANS.:—Buildings of the height men¬ 
tioned, according to the provisions of the 
Building Code, must be absolutely fire¬ 
proof. Section 105 of the Building Code, 
which relates to fireproof buildings, pro¬ 
vides, in substance, as follows: 

“Fireproof buildings shall be constructed 
with walls of brick, stone, Portland Cement, 
concrete, iron or steel, in which wood 
beams or lintels shall not be placed and in 
which the floors and roofs shall be mate¬ 
rials provided for in Section 106 of this 
Code. NO WOODWORK OR ANY 
OTHER INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL 
SHALL BE USED IN ANY OF THE 
PARTITIONS, FURRINGS OR CEIL¬ 
ING in any such fireproof building. * * * 
When the height of a fireproof building ex¬ 
ceeds 12 stories, or more than 150 feet, the 


floor surfaces shall be of stone, cement, 
rock, asphalt, tiling or other similar incom¬ 
bustible material. All outside window 
frames and sashes shall be of metal or of 
wood covered with metal. The inside win¬ 
dow frames and sashes, doors, trim and 
other interior finish may be of wood cov¬ 
ered with metal, or of a wood treated by 
some approved fireproof process. ALL 
HALL PARTITIONS OR PERMANENT 
PARTITIONS BETWEEN ROOMS IN 
FIREPROOF BUILDINGS SHALL BE 
OF FIREPROOF MATERIAL and shall 
not be started on wooden sills, nor on 
wooden floor boards, but be built upon the 
fireproof construction of the floor and ex¬ 
tend to the fireproof beam filling above.” 

It will be seen from these provisions that 
it is almost impossible for a fire in such a 
building, when confined to a room as stated 
in the question, to extend outside of the 
room, as all walls, partitions, etc., are fire¬ 
proof. 

(a) The special dangers would be allow¬ 
ing the flames and smoke to escape by 
opening the doors of the burning room. 
The room should be ventilated, if possible, 
from the window on the outside, first see¬ 
ing that the windows on the floors above 
are closed. Any open windows on the near¬ 
by floors above would be a danger of the 
fire spreading to the contents of those 
rooms. 

(b) The doors leading to the burning 
room should not, under any circumstances, 
be opened until all people on the upper 
floors have left the building, as the smoke 
and heat emanating from the burning room 
will travel upwards and fill the halls and 
stairways with heat and smoke, rendering 
escape impossible. 

The following answer is by Battalion 
Chief “B,” who accommodatingly conforms 
to the requirements of the questions and 
answers accordingly: 

ANSWER:— 

(a) The special dangers would be: 

1. —That if the doors of the burning quar¬ 
ters were opened, it would fill the upper 
floors of the building with smoke and pre¬ 
vent the escape of the occupants. 

2. —The smoke and heat would fill the ele¬ 
vator shafts and stairways, preventing their 
use. 

3. —The intense heat in the burning quar¬ 
ters might expose steel girders, etc., and 
throwing a stream of water on them might 
cause them to bend or break. Heavy arti¬ 
cles on the floor above might fall through 
the ceiling and create an opening which 
would extend the fire to the rooms above. 

4. —Flames or sparks might leap from the 
outside windows and enter open windows 
on the floors above. 

5. —If the mistake were made of opening 
the doors, or if in some manner the doors 
fell in, the dangers would become very 
great. The building would become filled 
with smoke, heat and sparks, preventing, 
perhaps, any effective indoor work. 



(b) The special precautions to avoid loss 
of life would be: 

1. —If there were any tenants in the build¬ 
ing, send in a second alarm at once. 

2. —'Above all things, do not open the 
doors of the burning quarters until the 
building (especially the upper floors) is 
emptied of its tenants, for if the smoke be 
permitted to fill the building the tenants 
could only seek refuge on the roof until the 
fire could be extinguished by fighting from 
the outside—if they ever reached the roof. 

3. —While getting hose in readiness to 
play and truck men ready to batter doors, 
station firemen on all floors to hurry ten¬ 
ants out by stairways and elevators, empty¬ 
ing elevators at 9th floor. 

4. —Have lines ready to play between 
burning rooms and the elevators and stair¬ 
way, in case doors fell in and allowed the 
smoke to escape. 

5. —If elevators and stairs became cut off, 
shout to tenants to go on roof. If on roof, 
megaphone them to stay there. If it be¬ 
came dangerous, shoot life lines with mes¬ 
sages attached, cautioning not to jump. 

6. —If conditions permitted, fight the fire 
in usual way by stretching hose from lower 
floors, from standpipes, as near to the burn¬ 
ing floor as possible. 

NOTE: This question does not call for 
methods of fighting the fire; how many 
lines to use, where to attach, etc. It only 
asks what are the special dangers of the fire 
as described and what steps should be taken 
to avoid loss of life. 

A certain alleged authority answered this 
question by saying that the rooms should 
be ventilated and then firemen sent to up¬ 
per floors, elevators, etc. NO GREATER 
MISTAKE IN JUDGMENT COULD BE 
MADE, since it would prevent escape of 
tenants and of firemen on the upper floors. 
In a fireproof building there is comparative¬ 
ly little danger of the fire spreading be¬ 
yond the rooms in which confined, and 
even if it be admitted that the fire did 
spread to adjoining rooms, it would not 
spread rapidly. 

The whole essential, therefore, is to let 
the fire alone until the building is emptied 
of its tenants. After that, break open the 
doors and put on the water, attaching the 
hose to pipes on floors below the fire and, 
if possible, also on the same floor. 

Ques. 2:—You will find below a descrip¬ 
tion of a building, the location of fire hy¬ 
drants, the location and description of a fire 
and other information. State exactly what 
you would do, in the order in which you 
would do it, if you were in command at the 
fire described, on a first alarm. It is in the 
high pressure district. You have four en¬ 
gine companies and two hook and ladder 
trucks. In your answer state where you 
would place your lines, what use you would 
make of the hook and ladder trucks and any 
other particulars deemed necessary. 

DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING.—A 
building is 12 stories high, 50 feet wide and 
extends 200 feet through from Blank Street 


to Dash Street. It is occupied as a loft 
building for the manufacture of clothing. 
There is a cellar and also a sub-cellar ex¬ 
tending through the entire building. There 
are two stairways which lead to the cel¬ 
lar and sub-cellar, one 30 feet from Blank 
Street and the other 30 feet from Dash 
Street. There is a freight elevator open to 
the street on Dash Street, which extends 
from the street to the sub-cellar. There is 
a passenger elevator, the shaft of which 
open into the hallway about 20 feet from 
Blank Street, and extends from the sub¬ 
cellar through the building. The floor on 
the street level is fireproof construction of 
steel beams, filled in with hollow tile, flat 
arch and 6 inches of cinder concrete, with 
3-inch sleepers, on which is laid a ^4-inch 
pine floor. 

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF 
FIRE.—A fire is in complete control of the 
cellar and sub-cellar. 

AUXILIARY FIRE APPARATUS.— 
The building is equipped with all the auxil¬ 
iary fire apparatus required by law. 

LOCATION OF FIRE HYDRANTS.— 
There are 3 high-pressure fire hydrants 
within 200 feet of the front of the building 
and 2 high-pressure fire hydrants within 
150 feet of the rear of the building. 

ANS.:—Order first engine company to 
stretch to the front stairway in the hall 
leading to the cellar and try and make the 
cellar. If unable, use Bent cellar pipe with 
lk 2 -inch open nozzle, also have two 3-inch 
lines stretched from high-pressure hydrant 
and connect to the sub-cellar Siamese con¬ 
nection, which may be perforated or auto¬ 
matic sprinkler. 

Order second company to stretch in line 
at passenger elevator. Try to keep the fire 
from coming up. Work down on ladder or 
use Hart or Baker cellar or sub-cellar pipe, 
if required. Also stretch two 3-inch lines 
into cellar outside Siamese connection, 
which may be perforated or sprinkler sys¬ 
tem. 

Order third and fourth companies to per¬ 
form the same operations in the rear by 
stairway and freight elevator opening. 

All engine companies to use 3-inch line. 

Order first truck company to open dead 
or vault light in front of building; also 
place 25 or 30-foot ladder down in passen¬ 
ger elevator shaft. Ventilate and open all 
doors and windows in front, and if neces¬ 
sary work up in building until building is 
relieved of smoke, gases and heat. Also 
connect cellar and sub-cellar pipes and op¬ 
erate same until relieved by the engine 
companies, when the fire is under control, 
or take up lines that are no longer required. 

Order second truck company to execute 
the same orders in the rear of the building. 

There being four engine companies and 
two hook and ladder companies, there 
would be at least one commanding officer 
who would assume charge, and if the fire 
was confined to the cellar and did not ex¬ 
tend, it would not be necessary to send out 
additional alarms, or cut openings in a thor- 


37 


oughly fireproof floor, because just as soon 
as the companies would connect their lines 
to the perforated pipes or automatic sprin¬ 
klers, which may have been turned off 
through carelessness or other reasons, they 
would hold the fire from extending until 
the companies made the cellar by the stair¬ 
ways and passenger elevator shaft and the 
freight elevator in the rear of the building. 

The main purpose is to confine the fire 
and prevent it from extending, by covering 
all openings with lines. The engineer 
would be informed which lines are in the 
perforated pipes, both in the sub-cellar and 
cellar, and lines would be numbered with 
brass tags for such purposes. The engineer 
would regulate the pressure accordingly 
on the gauge on B.lank Street. One hun¬ 
dred and twenty-five pounds would not be 
too great considering the 300 feet from the 
building and extent of the fire. He would 
give about 90 pounds pressure on the Dash 
Street lines. 

Having 12 lines stretched and all open¬ 
ings covered, it is almost a certainty that 
fire would be gotten under control and kept 
from extending. 

It is understood that all the necessary 
orders, such as sending the preliminary re¬ 
ports, overhauling and washing down until 
fire is thoroughly extinguished, and of or¬ 
dering the companies to take up or return 
to quarters, are given by the commanding 
officers and the officer in charge. 

A fire of this description would be ex¬ 
ceptionally rare, considering all the auxil¬ 
iary equipments, such as automatic sprin¬ 
klers; but as soon as the Fire Department 
arrives and makes connections to the Si¬ 
amese connections to the cellar and sub¬ 
cellar, it would soon be gotten under con¬ 
trol, which would not make it necessary to 
open up fireproof floor. Fire would be 
kept from extending by covering all open¬ 
ings with the lines. 

Ques. 3:—(a) What are the different sys¬ 
tems used in cold storage plants? Which 
is the most dangerous in case of fire? Give 
reasons for your answer, (b) You are di¬ 
rected to inspect a motorcycle repair shop, 
and a two-story building used as a whole¬ 
sale liquor house. State the particular fire 
hazard attached to each line of business and 
what inspection you would make of each 
place. 

ANS.:—(a) There are three systems: the 
ice, or the natural; the brine, and the am¬ 
monia. The ammonia is the most danger¬ 
ous, because the fumes from the ammonia, 
caused by the bursting of the tank or the 
pipe, are dangerous to life. I would instruct 
my men to be careful and not break any 
pipes or other vessels holding ammonia. I 
would protect my men from the chilled tem¬ 
perature and from the various odors arising 
from the material stored in the plant. I 
would endeavor to keep the fire away from 
the tanks and pipes. The first thing I 
would do when arriving at such a fire 
would be to shut off the supply of the am¬ 
monia at its source. I would ventilate the 


building by opening all windows, doors and 
roof, if necessary, allowing fumes, smoke, 
odors, etc., to escape. The smoke from cold 
storage plants is usually dangerous and 
sickening and has a peculiar chemical effect 
on the body. I would therefore work the 
men in relays and have them relieved as 
often as possible. 

(b) Motor Cycle Shop. —In inspecting a 
motor cycle repair shop, it is first neces¬ 
sary to see whether the place has a permit 
from the Fire Commissioner. It is unlaw¬ 
ful in such a shop to store or keep for sale 
any inflammable oil or calcium carbide. It 
is unlawful to keep or receive in such shop 
any cycle containing a volatile inflammable 
oil, unless the building or that portion of 
the building is constructed of fire-resisting 
material throughout. Any such violations 
should be noted. See that all oily waste 
and material are deposited in tin recepta¬ 
cles so as to prevent spontaneous combus¬ 
tion. See that no naked lights are near in¬ 
flammable materials, etc. See that there 
is sand in approved fire buckets for extin¬ 
guishing purposes; also approved recepta¬ 
cles for receiving waste oil on the floors, 
and if the floors where the cycles are kept 
are not fireproof the floors must have bed or 
metal drip pan. Smoking must be absolute¬ 
ly prohibited and a “No Smoking” sign 
must be displayed. No stove, torch, boiler 
or other furnace flame, fire or heat; electric 
dynamo, motor, or exterior sparking elec¬ 
tric apparatus, or artificial light ( except 
incandescent light) must be used in any 
room directly adjoining the same. Movable 
electric lights must be protected by ap¬ 
proved metal cages and fitted with keyless 
sockets. All switches and plugs must be 
four feet above the floor. Gasolene at no 
time should exceed two gallons in quantity 
in one approved safety can. When not in 
use it must be placed in an approved drip 
metal pan. 

Liquor Houses. —See that proper protec¬ 
tion is made against fire through exposures. 
See that the spirits, etc., are properly stored 
in cellars. See that there are stored not 
more than 10 barrels, of 50 gallons each, of 
spirits, liquors, etc., in the cellars, without 
a special permit from the Fire Commission¬ 
er. See that there are the other proper 
permits. See that the building is equipped 
with a proper approved fire protection sys¬ 
tem. It is unlawful for any person to store 
distilled liquors, spirits or alcohol of any 
kind in excess of one barrel for each four 
square feet of floor space, and barrels con¬ 
taining liquors shall not be stacked more 
than two barrels high. 

Ques. 4:—A 20-story building rises for 
twelve stories above the roofs of the build¬ 
ings adjoining it on two sides. It takes fire. 
The front and two sides of the building are 
ornamented with three prominently pro¬ 
jecting cornices, while the rear, rising sheer 
from the level of the ground, is of plain, 
smooth brick, without projecting ornament¬ 
ation of any kind. Five men are on the 
roof calling for help, and there is danger of 

38 


their jumping off in panic. The ladders are 
too short to reach the roof from any side. 
What measure would you adopt to effect a 
rescue, and from what point would you op¬ 
erate to reach the men on the roof? 

ANS.:—A 20-story building is required 
by law to have a passenger elevator in 
readiness for the use of the Fire Depart¬ 
ment at all hours of the day, including Sun¬ 
days and holidays. I would therefore send 
two or three men up on the elevators to the 
roof to rescue the men on the roof, or at 
least to assure them that there was no dan¬ 
ger, if such were the fact. A building of 
that height would have to be fireproof, and 
the five men on the roof would be quite safe 
there until such time as the firemen could 
get them down. 

However, if the elevators could not be 
used, I would bring a gun and canister pro¬ 
jectile, cartridges and at least two roof 
ropes to the roof of the eight-story build¬ 
ing on the windward side of the burning 
building, so that when the line was shot 
up in the air the wind would help to carry 
it in the proper direction. I would then 
fasten the roof rope to the line and shoot. 
Before doing this I would use the mega¬ 
phone to give them instructions as to what 
to do with the line when shot up to them. 

I would instruct them to fasten the roof 
rope to the chimney or other secure pro¬ 
jection and to use their coats to wrap 
around the rope when sliding down. If 
there was no chimney or other projection 
on the roof to fasten the rope to, would 
tell them to fasten it to the projecting cor¬ 
nices in front. In the meantime I would 
have the life net ready and as many horse 
blankets as possible in case of emergency. 
I would instruct them, through the mega¬ 
phone, to descend the rope slowly and not 
to get excited. 

Ques. 5:—(a) What would be the pres¬ 
sure loss in 10 lengths of 5-inch hose when 
the flow is 300 gallons per minute? (b) 
With 50 lbs. pressure at a 154-inch nozzle, 
what would be the horizontal and the ver¬ 
tical reach of the stream? 

ANS.:—(a) Pressure loss would be 8.2 
on each 100 feet of 3-inch hose, which 
would be 41 pounds. 

(b) Approximately 75 feet vertically and 
66 feet horizontally. (These figures are 
from the experiments of Mr. Freeman, of 
the New York Board of Fire Underwrit¬ 
ers.) 

Ques. 6:—(a) Mention the four most 
common causes of spontaneous combus¬ 
tion; (b) What are the dangers to be 
guarded against while fighting a fire involv¬ 
ing wool or paper in quantities, ammonia 
and non-explosive oils? 

ANS.:—(a) The four most common 
causes are: (1) gas lights exposed in the 
presence of vapors from naphtha, etc.; (2) 
oily waste and rags in covered boxes or 
closets; (3) dry substances, rags, wool and 
cotton, soaked with oil; (4) lamp black in 
casks will ignite spontaneously. A cask of 
it will sometimes be found red hot. 


(b) Wool or paper in quantities. —The 

dangers to be guarded against are the great 
increase in weight of the material when 
soaked with water, causing the floors and 
walls to collapse, and danger of re-ignition. 

To guard against this, overhaul every¬ 
thing carefully and see that no sparks or 
flames remain. 

Ammonia. —The great danger is the safe¬ 
ty of the men. The ammonia fumes are 
very dangerous and easily overcome one 
breathing them. 

Non-explosive oils. —They spread the fire 
if proper care is not taken. Burning oil 
should not be extinguished with water. 
Throwing water on oil will cause the oil to 
float on the water and spread the fire in 
every direction. 

REPORT. 

Write a report addressed to the Municipal 
Civil Service Commission, giving an ac¬ 
count of the assistance rendered to the 
work of the Fire Department by the opera¬ 
tion of the high-pressure system, showing 
its necessity under present conditions. 

N. B.—In rating this report, the chief 
consideration will be given to the knowl¬ 
edge of the subject displayed by the candi¬ 
date, but consideration will be given also to 
conciseness and clearness of expression. 
Elaborate discussions are not desired. Use 
enough words to express your ideas, and no 
more. 

Do not use any signature or number. 

New York, Feb. 26, 1912. 

ANSWER:— 

Municipal Civil Service Commission, 

299 Broadway, New York. 

Gentlemen: There is a pressure of 125 
pounds on all hydrants in a high-pressure 
district, which practically dispenses with 
the necessity for engines, the pressure be¬ 
ing supplied by powerful pumps operated 
at perfectly equipped stations. This pres¬ 
sure can be reduced or increased as condi¬ 
tions may warrant. Without the aid of a 
fire engine, a fire can be fought on the pres¬ 
sure received directly from the hydrant, ad¬ 
mitting of the throwing of a stream of wa¬ 
ter 250 feet high. 

Within 400 feet of any building in the 
high-pressure district there are a sufficient 
number of hydrants to throw sixty efficient 
streams of 500, gallons each per minute; 
and with both stations concentrated on a 
block, with 400 or 500 feet of 3-inch hose 
with 154 -i n ch nozzle, it would be almost 
impossible for any fire to get beyond con¬ 
trol. 

The enormous advantage of high pres¬ 
sure over low pressure may be seen in the 
fact that a low-pressure hydrant has an 
average pressure of only 10 to 20 pounds, 
and often when the engines draft from a 
small main there are 10 to 20 inches of 
vacuum, so that a low-pressure hydrant 
with simply the hose attached and no en- 


39 


gine working, would throw practically no 
stream. 

On the other hand, while under the high- 
pressure system only the men need to re¬ 
spond and can leave the engines in quar¬ 
ters, in case of a high-pressure breakdown 
the engines can be called to resume the 
fight. Thus the engines, which in the past 
have been so essential, now become only a 
reserve force. 

Wherever the high-pressure system is es¬ 
tablished, it practically means that the day 
of large conflagrations is past. On only 
one occasion—January 7, 1909,—was the en¬ 
tire strength of the Department called into 
service, and it proved its efficiency without 
any doubt, there being three fires at the 
same time within a square mile in the most 
dreaded district in this city—a high-pres¬ 
sure district. 

When the system will have been extended 
south of West 155th Street and throughout 
the densely populated and manufacturing 
sections, it may be said that New York City 
will be safe from serious conflagration. 

The advantages of high pressure are, 
briefly, as follows: 

It eliminates fire engines, which hitherto 
have been the main reliance. It is thus a 
measure of great economy. It also reduces 
excitement, which is important near 
schools, hospitals, etc. 

The hydrants are non-freezing, which is 
extremely important in cold weather. 

It reduces the number of additional 
alarms and the number of companies and 
apparatus required. 

The supply of water is better and more 
powerful. Salt water can be used should 
the fresh water supply give out, which is 
impossible under the old system. Should a 
break occur, the pressure could be sup¬ 
plied by connecting the fire boats. 

Stretches are shorter, meaning quicker 
work and greater economy of hose and 
men. 

It so greatly reduces insurance rates that 
in a few years it will pay for itself. 

Since its installation, with its enormous 
advantages, the surprise is that under the 
old system the city was never visited by a 
serious conflagration. 

Respectfully submitted. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—(a) Give fully the several items 
that must be stated in the monthly records. 

(b) When forwarding orders for repairs 
to quarters, apparatus and harness, what 
particular information must be specified in 
such orders? 

(c) If when testing hose, several lengths 
of hose should burst at or under the desig¬ 
nated pressure, what must the company 
commander do? 

(d) What is the rule as to furnishing re¬ 
ports concerning the particulars of all fires? 

ANS.:—(a) The following must be stated 
in the monthly records: The various alarms 


responded to; the actual number of times 
water is used to extinguish fires; the num¬ 
ber of hours and minutes at work; the 
number of hours and minutes on duty at 
fires; length of time out of quarters; the 
register numbers of horses on hand; the 
style and size of engines as well as the 
register numbers; the style, size, number or 
letters of tenders; Hook and Ladder and 
Tower; number of gallons of water used; 
the number, in feet, of ladders; hose 
lengths showing date of issue and size as 
well as the quantity; tons of coal used; the 
total numbers of runs made; the total num¬ 
ber of times at work. If any hose, ap¬ 
paratus, horse, etc., are on trial and not 
the property of the Department, such must 
be stated in the report. The estimated 
number of gallons of water used at each 
fire must be stated in one of the unused 
columns on the report blank, and at the 
bottom of this column, the total quantity 
of water used for the entire month must be 
stated. 

(b) State in detail when forwarding or¬ 
ders for repairs to quarters, apparatus, har¬ 
ness or other articles, exactly what repairs 
are needed. If repairs to quarters are to 
be made, separate orders must be made for 
each kind of work that is required to be 
performed. When repairs are required to 
be made to apparatus, same must be re¬ 
ported by the. Commanding Officer to the 
Chief of the Department, who will notify 
the Chief of the Bureau of Repairs and 
Supplies. If the apparatus is required to 
be taken out of service, then spare appa¬ 
ratus must be substituted as nearly as pos¬ 
sible of the same class as the ones requir¬ 
ing repairs. Upon completion of the re¬ 
pairs, the Chief of Department must be 
notified. If repairs are needed to the har¬ 
ness, the particular part needing repairs 
must be stated and whether a duplicate of 
such article or part is on hand. 

(c) Hose are tested by the Bureau of 
Repairs and Supplies which furnishes the 
company with other hose of the same size 
and number of lengths. In the case of 
hose that bursts at or under the designated 
pressure, the company commander must 
see that such hose is painted or marked 
conspicuously, stating the number of 
pounds pressure at which they burst. Tests 
of hose must be made at designated pres¬ 
sure and all the hose standing this pres¬ 
sure may be continued in use. If the hose 
do not stand the required test, the com¬ 
pany commander must notify the officer in 
charge of the Repair Shops in writing stat¬ 
ing the number of lengths that burst at and 
under the designated pressure, and the com¬ 
pany commander will collect and give a 
leceipt for all such which will answer as a 
voucher for hose taken. 

(d) Officers must furnish reports, the 
following morning, of the operations and 
particulars of all fires which they or any 
member of their command may hear of and 
which have not been reported, no matter 
by whom they have been discovered or ex¬ 
tinguished or how trifling the damage is. 


The particulars of fires should be reported 
on blank forms furnished for the purpose. 
The Fire Record Journal must be used for 
the purpose of entering therein the partic¬ 
ulars of all fires or alarms, for which re¬ 
ports of operations are forwarded, in place 
of the company journals; duplicates of all 
reports of operations at fires and alarms 
forwarded to Headquarters must be kept 
in the Fire Record Journal for reference. 

Ques. 2:—If, in the absence of your 
Foreman, you are in command, and the 
following matters are brought to your at¬ 
tention, explain what you would do to dis¬ 
pose of each case correctly: 

(a) Fireman X is fighting in the dormi¬ 
tory. 

(b) Driver Y is accused by a citizen of 
reckless driving. 

(c) Assistant Foreman Z shows symp¬ 
toms of becoming insane. 

(d) A dispute arises at a fire between an 
ambulance doctor and a fireman as to 
whether the man is fit for duty. 

ANS.:—(a) Section 208 of the Book of 
Rules states that the altercations are for¬ 
bidden under any circumstances. I would 
prefer a charge against Fireman X for 
“conduct prejudicial to good order and dis¬ 
cipline.” Before making such charge, I 
would call the attention of the members of 
the company present to the violation of the 
rules and make it plain to them that they 
would be called upon to act as witnesses. 
I would then forward the charges, together 
with the names and addresses of the wit¬ 
nesses, to my immediate superior officer. 

(b) I would advise the citizen to prefer 
charges against the Fireman in question 
for reckless driving. It would then be my 
duty to carefully examine the charges to 
see if they are drawn in proper form, and if 
necessary cause them to be corrected. It 
would then be my duty to immediately in¬ 
vestigate the circumstances on which the 
charges are founded, and forward without 
delay to my immediate superior with his 
opinion of, and approval or disapproval, 
indorsed on the charges. 

(c) I would first notify the Chief of Bat¬ 
talion regarding the condition of the Assist¬ 
ant Foreman, and would then notify the 
Medical Officer and Chief of Department. 
I would request the Chief of Battalion to 
detail another officer to take the Assistant 
Foreman’s place. If the patient were vio¬ 
lent, I would immediately call a Policeman 
and ambulance. 

(d) I would request the commanding of¬ 
ficer at the fire for instructions. If I were 
the commanding officer, I would summon 
a Department Medical Officer for his 
opinion. 

Ques. 3:—What inspections are made by 

(a) the Fire Department office force? (b) 
Other inspectors of the Department? (c) 
What is required in the way of information 
to make these inspections complete? 

ANS.:—(a) The Bureau of Violations is 
presumed to mean the “office force” of the 


Fire Department. The Bureau of Viola¬ 
tions is charged with examination into all 
complaints and reports of violations, or 
alleged violations, of the provisions of laws 
with regard to the installation of fire ap¬ 
pliances and the taking of precautionary 
measures provided for in the laws and ordi¬ 
nances. Inspections are also made in the 
various company districts as to buildings 
where fire hazards exist. 

(b) The following are other Inspectors 
of the Department: Assistant Inspectors of 
Combustibles or Oil Surveyors, whose duty 
it is to inspect all buildings where drugs 
and chemicals are stored and all other 
places where explosive or combustible ma¬ 
terials are kept. Their duties are also to 
see that Rules and Regulations of the Muni¬ 
cipal Explosives Commission are observed. 
Assistant Fire Marshals in the Bureau of 
Fire Marshal investigate the origin of all 
fires occurring in the City of New York. 
They make reports . of the causes of fires 
and prosecute cases of a suspicious char¬ 
acter. Fire Prevention Inspectors in the 
Bureau of Fire Prevention; their duties are 
to inspect all buildings in the City of New 
York to detect fire hazards caused either 
by combustible materials or faulty con¬ 
struction. 

(c) The commanding officers of the dif¬ 
ferent companies make inspections period¬ 
ically to see that all laws and ordinances 
are strictly complied with, stating the sec¬ 
tion of the law that is violated and what 
the violation consists of. Accompanied by 
the names of witnesses, they forward the 
same so that suitable action can be taken 
towards enforcement. 

Ques. 4:—What should be covered in the 
semi-annual reports of Company Com¬ 
manders or those acting in that capacity? 

ANS.:—The following should be covered 
in such reports: Reports of inspections of 
every building in the respective company 
districts wherein fire appliances of any kind 
are installed or required, whether they have 
been previously reported on or not, and 
keep proper record up to date of all such 
inspections in the “Building Record Jour¬ 
nal.” 

In all cases wherein any fire appliances 
are recommended, the existing equipment, 
condition of same, together with such other 
necessary information covering general sur¬ 
vey of premises and showing possibility of 
fire, and consquent danger to occupants, 
must be noted in the reports. 

If no additional fire appliances are 
needed, such facts must be stated. 

In hotels, lodging houses, hospitals and 
asylums, the requirements providing for 
telegraphic communication, interior fire 
alarm system, watchmen, time detector, dia¬ 
grams in rooms, signs in halls, fire extin¬ 
guishers, buckets, hooks, axes, hose, . fire 
doors and such other means of extinguish¬ 
ing and preventing fires as the Commis¬ 
sioner may designate, must be stated. 

In theatres, places where large numbers 
of people are congregated for purposes of 


worship, instruction or amusement, public 
schools, public buildings, churches, music 
halls, manufactories, warehouses, stores, of¬ 
fice buildings, boarding houses, tenement 
and apartment houses, facts must be stated 
regarding provisions for telegraph com¬ 
munications, fire extinguishers, buckets, 
hooks, axes, hose, fire doors, etc., and such 
other means of preventing and extinguish¬ 
ing fires as the Fire Commissioner may- 
designate. 

In reporting relative to theaters, or in 
other buildings used for theatrical purposes 
or for public entertainment of any kind, 
facts must be stated regarding standpipe^ 
gas pipes, electric wires, hose, footlights 
and all other apparatus for the extinguish¬ 
ing of fire or for the prevention of same. 

The existing regulations for standpipes 
and perforated pipe systems in certain 
classes of buildings must be covered in 
making reports on such buildings. Sound 
judgment must be exercised in making 
recommendations for auxiliary fire appli¬ 
ances. The size and class of structure, 
nature of business carried on, the number 
of occupants and means of escape pro¬ 
vided, must be stated in all cases. 

[NOTE:—In the examination for Fore¬ 
man (Captain) held June 21, 1910, a similar 
question was asked, but it was so worded 
that it called for a mass of detail and repe¬ 
tition that would have required hours to 
properly answer. The Chronicle called 
attention to the impracticability of the 
question, and the above simplified question 
is evidently the fruit -of the protest.] 

Ques. 5:—(a) What are the conditions 
governing the granting of street fire per¬ 
mits? (b) Other permits of the Depart¬ 
ment? 

ANS.:—(a) It is unlawful to kindle, build, 
maintain or use a fire upon a public street, 
avenue or highway without a permit from 
the Fire Commissioner, for the purpose of 
conducting a trade or business upon appli¬ 
cation and information as required by the 
Commissioner. 

It is unlawful to kindle a fire within 15 
feet of a fire hydrant or within two feet of 
the surface of any stone or asphalt pave¬ 
ment, except when repairing, removing or 
constructing same. 

(b) See that they are issued from the 
Fire Department, are of the current year 
and conspicuously displayed and that where 
they are required they have same. 

Permits are required in places where fire¬ 
works are sold; places where kerosene is 
sold and places having on their premises 
vegetable fibre or other combustibles or ex¬ 
plosives. 

Ques. 6:—A 12-story building 148 feet 
high is located on the opposite side from a 
fire, the street being 80 feet wide. The 
building is equipped with the size stand¬ 
pipes required by law. An engine is lo¬ 
cated at a hydrant 450 feet distant from 
the standpipe and another at a hydrant 300 
feet from the standpipe. Both are con¬ 


nected to the standpipe with 8-inch hose. 
You are in command of one of the engine 
companies and in co-operation with the of¬ 
ficer in command of the other company are 
directed to proceed to the roof, Siamese the 
two companies in the best possible manner 
in order to deliver an effective single stream 
of water across the intervening space. Ex¬ 
plain in detail what fittings, tools, hose and 
nozzle you would use to properly carry out 
this order, and assuming that you required 
a nozzle pressure of 100 lbs. to the square 
inch, what pressure would you order on the 
pumps of the engine? 

ANS.:—The following tools, fittings, etc., 
would be required. Three lengths of 2J4- 
inch hose; one length of 3-inch hose; one 
Siamese connection 2 l / 2 inches by 3 inches; 
one Perfection or Paradox pipe-holder; one 
open nozzle 1 inches by 3 inches, and a 
wrench to make tight. With a 3-inch 
Siamese connection, two increasers and 
one reducer would be required. I would 
then connect one length of hose on roof 
to the outlet of the standpipe, the other to 
be connected on the top floor, and would 
then Siamese these two lengths of hose on 
the roof. I would then lead out one length 
from the Siamese, place the nozzle on and 
then place pipe holder. 

If there was no outlet on the roof, I 
would take off hose on 11th and 12th floors, 
connect two lengths on the 11th floor and 
one length on the 12th floor, then connect 
with the Siamese connection, connect the 
3-inch length, put on nozzle and pipe- 
holder, open valves on 11th and 12th floors 
and have water started. 

There are 66 pounds loss in friction 
caused by back pressure in height of build¬ 
ing. This is determined by multiplying the 
height of the building, 148 feet, by .434. 
which is 64,232 pounds less by friction. 

There is a loss of seven pounds to each 
length of hose: 450 feet is equal to nine 
lengths of hose. This would make a fric¬ 
tion loss of 63 pounds. The distance of 
350 feet is equal to six lengths of hose. 
Therefore the loss would be 42 pounds. 

450 feet = 63 pounds 
350 feet = 42 pounds 

105 pounds 

But the two lines into one standpipe re¬ 
duces this practically one-half, which would 
make it about 53 pounds. Then frictional 
loss on height of standpipe and hose would 
be about: 

(.434) .434 

148 ft. 

= 64.232 
add 53. 

4 lengths on 
Siamese 33. 


150 pounds loss 

This makes it necessary to have about 
250 pounds pressure on each engine, and 
with the two engines in good condition and 


1 



the water supply adequate they could fur¬ 
nish an effective stream. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 
(Weight 2.) 

Ques. 1:—(a) What buildings are re¬ 
quired to have standpipes by the City Ordi¬ 
nances? Give the size of standpipes and 
other essential details in each case. 

(b) What are the Code requirements re¬ 
lating to auxiliary fire apparatus in build¬ 
ings in New York City? 

ANS.:—(a) Buildings of a large area, ir¬ 
respective of height, are required to be 
equipped with standpipes. They are re¬ 
quired in every building now erected, un¬ 
less already provided with a 3-inch or larger 
vertical pipe, which exceeds 100 feet in 
height; in every building exceeding 150 feet 
in height, to be erected. They must be pro¬ 
vided with 4-inch standpipes running from 
cellar to roof and with one two-way 3-inch 
Siamese connection to the street above the 
curb level and with one 2j4-inch outlet 
with hose attached thereto one each floor, 
placed as near the stairs as possible. Stand¬ 
pipes must not be less than 6 inches in 
diameter for all other buildings over 150 
feet in height. Valve outlets must be pro¬ 
vided on each and every story, including the 
basement, cellar and roof. If any of these 
buildings extend from street to street, or 
form an L shape, they must be provided 
with standpipes for each street frontage. 

(b) All buildings now erected, unless al¬ 
ready provided with a 3-inch or larger ver¬ 
tical pipe; or hereafter to be erected, which 
exceeds 150 feet in height, must be pro¬ 
vided with auxiliary fire apparatus and ap¬ 
pliances, consisting of water tank on roof 
or in cellar, standpipes, hose, nozzles, 
wrenches, fire extinguishers, hooks, axes 
and such other appliances as may be re¬ 
quired by the Fire Department. All of the 
above must be of the best material and of 
the sizes and patterns and of regulation 
kinds used and required by the Fire Depart¬ 
ment. 

All such buildings must have in readiness 
for immediate use a steam or electric pump 
and at least one passenger elevator. In 
buildings occupied for business or manu¬ 
facturing purposes there must be in con¬ 
nection with the standpipe system, 2^4-inch 
perforated iron pipes placed on and along 
the ceiling line of each floor below the first 
floor, and extending to the full depth of 
the building. Said perforated pipes must be 
provided with valves to be set or near the 
standpipes. Automatic sprinklers may be 
put in lieu of the perforated pipes. When 
the building is 25 feet or less in width, two 
lines of perforated pipes must be provided, 
and one line additionally for each 12, l /> feet 
or part thereof that the building is wider 
than 25 feet. 

[NOTE.—The Fire Commissioner re¬ 
cently promulgated an order in the Fire 
Prevention Bureau requiring that buildings 
less than 150 feet in height have 6-inch 


standpipes, and over 150 feet, 8-inch stand¬ 
pipes. This is in conflict with the Building 
Code, and it is a question that remains to 
be determined whether the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner has power to amend the Building 
Code. (Date, June 7, 1912.)] 

[NOTE 2.—In February, 1916, the Build¬ 
ing Code was amended to provide that build¬ 
ings over 250 feet in height must have an 
8-inch standpipe.] 

Ques. 2:—(a) What are the conditions 
with which owners of buildings must com¬ 
ply in the erection of passenger elevators 
in staircase enclosures? 

(b) In every non-fireproof building used 
as a hotel, where the elevator is not en¬ 
closed in a fireproof shaft, with what re¬ 
quirements must the proprietor of the hotel 
comply? 

ANS.:—(a) Owners must comply with 
the following: Open grillwork inclosures 
for passenger elevators, not extending be¬ 
low the level of the first floor, may be 
erected in staircase inclosures in buildings 
where the entire space occupied by the 
stairs and elevators is inclosed in brick or 
stone and the stairs are constructed as 
specified in Section 53 of the Building Code. 

(b) In every non-fireproof building used 
or occupied as a hotel, in which there is 
an elevator not inclosed in fireproof shafts, 
such elevator must be inclosed in suitable 
walls constructed and arranged as required 
for elevator shafts in the Building Code. 

Ques. 3:—When the height of a fireproof 
building exceeds twelve stories, of 150 feet 
in height, what kind of construction must 
be employed: 

(a) In the frames and sashes of outside 
windows? 

(b) In the frames and sashes of inside 
windows, doors, trim and other interior 
finish? 

(c) In laying floor surfaces? 

ANS.:—(a) All outside window frames 
and sashes must be constructed of metal or 
wood covered with metal. 

(b) The inside window frames and sash 
doors, trim and other interior finish may 
be constructed of wood covered with metal 
or of wood treated by some process ap¬ 
proved by the Bureau of Buildings to ren¬ 
der same fireproof. 

(c) The floor surfaces must be of stone, 
cement, rock, asphalt, tiling or similar in¬ 
combustible materials or the sleepers and 
floors may be of wood treated by some pro¬ 
cess approved by the Bureau of Buildings 
to render the same fireproof. 

Ques. 4:—To what matters would you 
think it necessary to give particular atten¬ 
tion, if you were detailed to inspect: 

(1) Garage and automobile repair shop? 

(2) Fireworks establishment? 

(3) Ammunition shop? 

(4) Grocery store? 

(5) Bakery? 


43 


In each instance mention at least two 
matters that you regard of the greatest im¬ 
portance, giving the provisions of the law 
applying to the matter. 

ANS.:—(1) Garage and automobile repair 
shop. In inspecting a garage, I would first 
see that the owner has a permit issued by 
the Fire Commissioner. I would see that 
no more than the specified number of gal¬ 
lons of inflammable liquids are on hand. 
See that there are adequate means of escape 
in case of fire and that there is nothing 
present on the premises that would tend 
to cause fires. In motor vehicle repair 
shops, I would also look for a permit issued 
by the Fire Commissioner. If the shop has 
a permit for a garage it is not necessary 
to have a permit for a motor vehicle repair 
shop. If the owner has only a permit for 
repair shops, I would see that there is no 
volatile inflammables, oil or calcium carbide 
stored or kept on the premises. Also look 
into the fire risk and everything that would 
tend to cause fires. The Municipal Explo¬ 
sives Commission, in its rules and regula¬ 
tions, provides for the requirements of the 
above establishments. 

See that the garage is not within 50 feet 
of the nearest wall of any building occu¬ 
pied as a school, tenement, hotel, theater 
or any place of public amusement or assem¬ 
bly, and that the construction is of fire re¬ 
sisting material throughout, and that no 
dry goods or other highly inflammable ma¬ 
terial or explosives are manufactured or 
kept for sale. 

Where volatile inflammable oils are 
stored, the garage must be under the con¬ 
tinuous care and supervision of one or more 
persons, each such person possessing a cer¬ 
tificate of fitness. See that the garage has 
an oil separator, trap or similar apparatus 
attached to the house drain, to prevent oils 
from flowing into sewers. See that all 
tanks, pumps, oil separator or other similar 
apparatus are of a type approved by the 
Fire Commissioner. 

See that “Smoking Unlawful” signs, with 
a copy of the section of the law, are dis¬ 
played in one or more conspicuous places 
on each floor; that each floor is equipped 
with fire buckets filled with sand; that a 
quantity of sand is kept on every floor for 
absorbing waste oils; that each floor is 
equipped with self-closing metal cans for 
all inflammable materials; that calcium car¬ 
bide is kept in water-tight metal containers 
with securely fastened covers. When in¬ 
specting automobile repair shops see that 
no calcium carbide is kept, stored or sold 
on the premises. 

It is against the law to introduce or re¬ 
ceive automobiles containing volatile in¬ 
flammable oils unless that part of the build ¬ 
ing where the repairs are to be made is con¬ 
structed of fire-resisting material through¬ 
out. 

(2) Fireworks establishment. When mak¬ 
ing inspection of fireworks establishments, 
the manner of the location of the various 
chemicals must be carefully gone into, as 


many chemicals react and form explosive 
mixtures. 

First, ascertain whether the establishment 
is in possession of a permit from the Fire 
Commissioner. Look into the manner and 
place of storing raw material entering into 
the manufacture of fireworks; the manner 
and place of storing the product; the quan¬ 
tity of raw material stores. Ascertain the 
distance of each building from adjoining 
buildings, streets, highways and public 
places, as well as the nature of the mate¬ 
rial and construction of adjoining buildings. 
Note the purpose for which each building 
is used. 

See that the building used for the storage 
of explosives or for the storage of the fin¬ 
ished product is not situated nearer than 
300 feet to any building not used in the 
connection with the manufacture of fire¬ 
works, or to any street. See that the build¬ 
ing used for the manufacture of fireworks 
is not situated nearer than 200 feet to any 
building not used in connection with the 
manufacture of fireworks, or to any street 
or public place. See that the building for 
the manufacture of fireworks is not situated 
nearer than 50 feet to any building used 
for the storage of explosives or fireworks, 
nor nearer than 25 feet to any other build¬ 
ing within the factory enclosure. 

See that the premises where the fire¬ 
works are manufactured are enclosed on all 
sides by a substantial fence and that all 
openings to such enclosure are fitted with 
suitable gates, which, when not locked, are 
in charge of a competent watchman. Ascer-^ 
tain that when the premises are not actu¬ 
ally used for manufacturing after work¬ 
ing hours and that the premises are in 
charge of a competent watchman. 

See that on the premises where fireworks 
are manufactured that there are at least 
three fire hydrants, placed in different parts 
of the enclosure, connected to an adequate 
supply of water pressure and that the hose 
are of sufficient length to reach all parts 
of the buildings within the enclosure. See 
that at all times there are kept within a 
distance of five feet of each building in¬ 
side such enclosure at least six five-gallon 
buckets, full of water, and at least six five- 
gallon buckets full of sand; that the prem¬ 
ises where fireworks are manufactured are 
at all times supplied with adequate means 
of communication with the Fire Depart¬ 
ment, such as telephone or fire alarm boxes; 
that the premises where fireworks are man¬ 
ufactured are lighted with incandescent 
electric lights. 

Carefully ascertain that no persons are 
allowed to smoke on the premises, carry 
lighted cigars, cigarettes, pipes, etc.; that 
a Smoking Unlawful” sign is conspicuous- 
ly displayed in one or more places in each 
building, room, shed or enclosure used for 
manufacturing. Ascertain that the superin¬ 
tendent or manager in charge of the fac¬ 
tory is a competent person and is in pos¬ 
session of a certificate of fitness. 

See that all torpedoes are packed with 
sawdust in paper cartons packed in wooden 


shipping cases and that no shipping case 
contains more than 1,000 torpedoes. See 
that no place used for the manufacture, 
storage or sale of fireworks is occupied as 
a tenement house, school, workshop, fac¬ 
tory, theater or other place of amusement. 
See that all premises where fireworks are 
stored or sold are equipped with an ap¬ 
proved system of automatic sprinklers; that 
the building for the sale and storage of fire¬ 
works is not of wooden construction; that 
no dry goods or other inflammable mate¬ 
rials are manufactured, stored or sold on 
the premises. 

(3) Ammunition Shop. Look for the 
proper permit from the Fire Commissioner. 
See that no premises used for the storage 
and sale of ammunition are occupied as a 
tenement house, school, theater or other 
place of public amusement, or as a drug 
store, paint store, pawn shop or stationery 
store which are artificially lighted by any 
other means than electricity; or where 
cigars, cigarettes or tobaccos are stored or 
kept for sale; or where liquors are sold; 
or where materials of a highly inflammable 
nature are manufactured, stored or kept for 
sale; or where fireworks are manufactured, 
stored or kept for sale. See that the quan¬ 
tities of ammunition stored or kept are not 
more than provided in the permit from the 
Fire Commissioner. It is unlawful for the 
holder of a permit to store or exhibit in 
the windows or doors of the premises cov¬ 
ered by the permit any cartridges or shells 
containing explosives. 

While the present regulations prohibit 
the storage and sale of ammunition in tene¬ 
ment houses, etc., a special permit may be 
granted by the Municipal Explosives Com¬ 
mission, under Section 53 of the Regula¬ 
tions providing the conditions existing com¬ 
plied with the regulations in force at the 
time the original permit was granted, and 
that premises were not in a dangerous con¬ 
dition. 

(4) Grocery Store. Inspect all articles of 
an inflammable or combustible nature, such 
as petroleum and mineral oils (kerosene 
oil), matches, metal polishes and insecti¬ 
cides or bug destroyers. See whether the 
occupant of the premises is in possession 
of proper permits to sell the above articles 
and whether the manufacturers of the metal 
polishes, insecticides, etc., secured the 
proper certificates of registration or had 
permits. 

See that all combustibles are stored in 
proper receptacles. If the grocery store is 
located in a tenement house, see that no 
more matches are stored than prescribed. 
The quantities of inflammables and com¬ 
bustible mixtures stored should not .be in 
excess of that required by law. See if any 
fat boiling is done on the premises, and if 
so, that such complies with the law. I 
would see that ovens, stores, etc., are prop¬ 
erly installed, and that everything is in 
compliance with the Building Code and 
Tenement House Law. 

(5) Bakeries. See that no bakeries ex¬ 
ist in tenement houses which are not fire¬ 


proof throughout, unless the ceilings, side- 
walls and all exposed iron or wooden gird¬ 
ers or columns within the said bakery 
where fat-boiling is done are made safe by 
fireproof materials. 

See that there are no openings either by 
door or window, dumb waiter shaft, or 
otherwise, between said bakery or place 
where fat-boiling is done and the other 
parts of the building, except that in bak¬ 
eries in which no fat is boiled and in which 
no apparatus for fat-boiling is present on 
the premises, a dumb waiter communication 
between the place where the baking is done 
and the store above may be maintained, en¬ 
tirely enclosed in a brick shaft, with walls 
not less than 8 inches thick without any 
openings whatever, except one door open¬ 
ing in the bake shop and one door opening 
in the bakery store, such openings must 
each be provided with a fireproof door so 
arranged that when one door is open, or 
partly open, the other door shall be entirely 
closed. 

Ques. 5:—A man wishes a permit to open 
a hall for the exhibition of moving pictures. 
Give all the requirements imposed which re¬ 
late to fire risks and fire protection. 

ANS.:—Persons applying for permits to 
operate moving picture shows must comply 
with the following: No cinematograph or 
other apparatus for projecting moving pic¬ 
tures, which apparatus uses combustible 
films of more than 10 inches in length, must 
be set up for use or used in any building 
or place of entertainment unless such ap¬ 
paratus is enclosed in a booth or an en¬ 
closure constructed of iron framework, cov¬ 
ered or lined with asbestos board, or with 
some equally strong and fire-resisting ma¬ 
terial. The booths must be constructed 
according to plans and specifications ap¬ 
proved by the Bureau of Buildings. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n. 

FIRE LIEUTENANT. 

Date: February 27, 1912. 

ADMINISTRATION AND REPORT. 

Weight, 6. 

Ques. 1:—You will find below a descrip¬ 
tion of two buildings, the location of fire 
hydrants, the location and description of a 
fire, and other information. State exactly 
what you would do, in the order in which 
you would do it, if you were in command 
at the fire described, on a first alarm. It 
is in the high-pressure district. You have 
four engine companies, two hook and lad¬ 
der trucks and one water tower. In your 
answer state where you would place your 
lines, what use you would make of the hook 
and ladder trucks, and what use, if any, you 
would make of the water tower, and other 
particulars deemed necessary. 

Description of Building.—A building is 12 
stories high, 50 feet wide, and extends 200 
feet through from Blank Street to Dash 


45 



Street. It is situated 25 feet from Zero 
Avenue. It is occupied as workrooms and 
salesrooms for the wholesale millinery busi¬ 
ness, straw goods, etc. A similar building 
is next door. Between the two buildings 
is a shaft 24 by 12 feet. There are fire 
escapes on the rear of the building on Dash 
Street. 

Location of Fire.—A fire breaks out on 
the fifth floor of the first building near the 
airshaft, and spreads across the shaft to 
the sixth and seventh floors of the next 
building. 

Auxiliary Fire Apparatus.—The buildings 
are equipped with all the auxiliary fire ap¬ 
paratus required by law. 

Location of Fire Hydrants.—There are 
three high-pressure fire hydrants within 200 
feet of the front of the building. There are 
two high-pressure fire hydrants within 150 
feet of the rear of the building. 

ANS.:—Considering the vague descrip¬ 
tion at hand and the many circumstances 
that present themselves, my main idea 
would be to get to work as quickly as pos¬ 
sible and get sufficient streams on the fire, 
and prevent same from spreading and as¬ 
suming large proportions. 

Have first engine company connect two 
3-inch lines to standpipe Siamese connec¬ 
tion of building on fire; have engineer open 
hydrant; have men go up front stairway 
and connect at least two lengths to fourth 
floor valve; have truckmen open entrance 
for men to go to work. 

Second engine company connect two 3- 
inch lines to standpipe Siamese connection 
to building on fire on sixth and seventh 
floors; have men proceed up front stairway 
with two lengths of 2j4-inch hose and con¬ 
trolling nozzle; connect line to fifth floor 
or sixth floor if possible; have entrance 
made by a few truckmen from first hook 
and ladder company. Men on line will ex¬ 
tinguish fire on sixth floor and when under 
control go and make seventh floor. Try to 
confine fire there and prevent from spread¬ 
ing. 

Send the third and fourth engine com¬ 
panies to the rear of buildings on fire; en¬ 
ter with lines stretched from high pressure 
hydrants to standpipes Siamese connections 
and get to work from best points of van¬ 
tage. Men could use house lines on differ¬ 
ent floors as soon as entrance to building is 
made. 

Have water tower placed in position with 
3-inch lines stretched and made ready to 
raise tower mast, and prepared to operate 
same should fire show on any of these 
floors. 

I would assume that buildings on fire 
would be at, say, Spring Street, 25 feet east 
of Wooster Street, running 200 feet to¬ 
ward Prince Street, with air-shafts in cen¬ 
ter of building. Such buildings used for 
manufacturing, and business purposes, 
stocked with inflammable and combustible 
materials generally assume large propor¬ 
tions when they get a headway and require 
additional companies and alarms. They keep 
the Department on the jump and very 
busy. 


The truckmen would be used to open 
building for the men to gain entrances, also 
ventilate, overhaul, raise ladders, rescue 
lives, assist generally in moving or man¬ 
ning lines and closing shutters and win¬ 
dows in shaft to prevent fire from spread¬ 


ing. 

Have no more than four lines on any 
high pressure hydrant. 

Send preliminary reports to the Tele¬ 
graph Bureau and notify the High Pressure 
Pumping Station to increase or reduce the 
pressure, or discontinue same when no 
longer required. 

It is necessary to know whether the 
building on fire is occupied at the time. If 
so, it would be necessary to raise aerial and 
scaling ladders, using all the tools and im¬ 
plements as taught at the College School 
at Department Headquarters. 


Ques. 2:—Six lengths of 3-inch hose from 
hydrant to fire and reaching to the fourth 
story, the flow being 400 gallons per min¬ 
ute; what would be the total pressure loss 
in pounds per square inch? 

ANS.:—Deduct seven pounds for friction 
loss for each length of hose. Also deduct 
3 Yi pounds for each ten feet of elevation. 
Therefore, the friction loss on six lengths 
of hose would be 42 pounds. Assuming 
that the height of each story is 12 l / 2 feet, 
the friction loss on four stories, allowing 
Z l / 2 pounds for each ten feet in elevation, 
would be Yl x /2 pounds. The total friction 
losses on the six lengths of hose and the 
elevation would be 59J/2 pounds. This is 
approximate. Accurate computation can be 
made from published tables of the Board 
of Fire Underwriters, giving the friction 
losses for various sizes of hose. For 3-inch 
hose with a flow of 200 gallons of water, 
deduct 14 pounds friction loss for each 100 
feet of hose and add y 2 pound for each ad¬ 
ditional 10 gallons’ flow over 200 gallons 
up to 400 gallons. For each foot of eleva¬ 
tion multiply the decimal .434. Therefore 
the solution would be as follows: 

The total friction loss on 100 feet of hose 
is 14 pounds, or 7 pounds for each length. 
As there are six lengths, multiply 6 by 7, 
which equals 42 pounds. This is the fric¬ 
tion loss on the six lengths of hose. As 
the building is four stories high, each 
story measuring 12^ feet, multiply 50 feet 
by .434, which equals 21.7, making total loss 
63.7 pounds.. . This figure will be varied by 
other conditions which may involve fric¬ 
tion in the hose, such as bends, burrs, 
kinks, connections, etc. 

Ques. 3:—(a) What fittings are required 
to connect a Sy-inch line from a high-pres¬ 
sure hydrant to a water tower? 

(b) Two men are on the roof of an eight- 
story building on fire. Rescue by extension 
or scaling ladders cannot be effected. You 
are directed to shoot a life line from the 
ninth floor of a building across a street 25 
feet wide. There is an 80-mile-an-hour gale 
blowing at the time. Explain in detail 
how you would carry out the order. 

ANS.:—(a) An increaser 3 inches to Z l / 2 


46 


inches at the hydrant; hydrant connection 
with gauge for the 3-inch outlet of the 
hydrant; an increaser for the female coup¬ 
ling of the hose; a reducer of Z l / 2 inches 
to 3 inches into the tower, the reducer be¬ 
ing placed on the “he” butt of the hose. 

(b) Since an 80-mile gale is strong 
enough to blow the men off the building 
and would also blow a line far out of a 
direct course, it is necessary to consider the 
direction of the wind. We will suppose that 
the burning building is to the north and the 
building in which the firemen are placed is 
to the south. 

With the wind from the south, it might 
be possible to throw the line across 25 feet 
without a gun, especially with the wind 
back of it. If the wind was from the west, 
the gun should be shot diagonally toward 
the west, and not directly at the building. 
Similarly, if the wind was from the east, 
the gun would have to be aimed diagonally 
toward the east. If the wind was from the 
north, the gun should be aimed straight at 
the building. 

It would be important to give the two 
men instructions regarding how to use the 
line, but in the face of an 80-mile gale they 
probably would not be able to keep their 
feet and would either be lying flat or cling¬ 
ing to chimneys, etc. If the wind was 
from the north, it would be doubly difficult 
to shout instructions. The best way would 
be to attach a note of instructions to the 
line, and if possible supplement this by 
shouting instructions. The instructions, 
whether verbal or by note, should state how 
to make use of the life line, where to at¬ 
tach it and how to slide down. It should 
instruct to attach the line securely to a 
chimney or cornice (specifying which chim¬ 
ney or cornice), such as the cornice or 
chimney to the north, or to the south, or 
to the left or right. The reason for specify¬ 
ing is that the men should avoid attaching 
the line to a place that would be -over an 
open window, which would be dangerous, 
as the flames leaping from the window 
might burn the rope. The place specified 
should be a blank wall or between windows. 
The instruction would also advise how to 
slide down the rope. They should wrap 
their coats around the rope to avoid injury 
to the hands or feet, and they should en¬ 
twine their legs around the rope to insure 
gradual descent, also tell them to keep 
cool; that there is no danger if they fol¬ 
low instructions, and not to get too closely 
together on the rope. 

A light cord would be tied to the projec¬ 
tile, placing the projectile over the muz¬ 
zle of the gun. After the cartridge had 
been inserted, the line should be shot 
across. 

If, in descending the rope, it be possible 
to go down the building only a certain dis¬ 
tance on account of fire underneath, the 
life net should be used in addition. The 
men on the rope should be instructed to 
hold on to the rope until the life net is 
made ready. As soon as net is ready, they 
should be instructed to jump. 


Ques. 4:—Give your views on the follow¬ 
ing points: During a fire in a hotel, the 
apartments of the guests, or lodgers, are 
thrown open to permit the firemen to pass 
backward and forward. Articles of value, 
mostly portable property, lie around in 
every direction. Would it be the duty of 
the firemen to save as many of these arti¬ 
cles as possible and restore them to their 
owners? As commanding officer of a fire 
company, what instructions would you give 
your men in a case like this? How would 
you enforce your orders? Whose duty 
would it be to save the property mentioned 
in this question? Give full particulars. 

ANS.:—I would instruct my men to keep 
away from every place where there was no 
fire and would give them strict orders to 
handle no valuables or anything not neces¬ 
sary to handle. It would not be their duty 
to save the valuables, but, on the contrary, 
to keep away from them. To prevent them 
from touching any valuables, I would keep 
them as close to me as possible and as 
nearly as possible I would give each man 
individual instructions regarding his work 
at the fire, so that none of them could have 
an excuse for rumaging about. 

It is the duty of the Salvage Corps to 
look after the valuables, and it is the main 
duty of the Fire Department to extinguish 
the fire. It is the duty of the Police De¬ 
partment to co-operate with the Salvage 
Corps in preventing the removal of prop- 
ertv at a fire. 

While the fire was being extinguished T 
would detail a trusted officer to watch duty, 
provided that he could be spared for the 
purpose. I would notify the officer in 
charge at the fire of the fact of many valu¬ 
ables being exposed, so that he could take 
his own measures of protecting them. 

I would notify the officer in charge of 
the Fire Patrol, and I would also notify 
the officer in charge of the Police. 

I would not, however, allow the desire to 
protect valuables to interfere in any way 
with efficiency of my force in extinguish¬ 
ing the fire. 

Ques. 5:—What is the capacity of a sin¬ 
gle high pressure hydrant? What are the 
diameters of the several valves on the 
hydrant? What is the pilot valve, and its 
use? 

ANS.:—The capacity of a high pressure 
hydrant depends upon the amount of pres¬ 
sure on the water main. The capacity when 
the pressure at the main is at its highest, 
amounts to about 4,000 gallons per minute. 
The diameters of the various valves of a 
high pressure hydrant are: Main valve. 
6 11-16 inches; pilot valve, 2 5-16 inches: 
drain valve, yi inch; independent valves, 3 
inches. In the high pressure hydrants in 
the section of the zone first installed, the 
independent valves are 3 inches and \ l / 2 
inches. The pilot valve is a small valve 
placed in the center of the main valve. It 
is used as a by-pass. The diameter of the 
main valve is 6 11-16 inches. The surface 
area of the valve is 31 square inches. The 


47 


action of the valve is in a downward direc¬ 
tion when opening and the movement is 
against the course or pressure of water en¬ 
tering the standpipe. Under these circum¬ 
stances it would be very difficult to make 
opening against a high pressure. There¬ 
fore, the object of the pilot valve is to meet 
these conditions so that an opening can be 
effected in any high pressure. The pilot 
valve which is inside of the main valve 
equalizes the pressure above and below the 
main valve, this operation making it easy to 
cope with any pressure. The pilot valve, 
located in the center of the main valve, has 
a diameter of 2 5-16 inches and a surface 
area of about 4 square inches. The pilot 
valve in the main valve is so arranged that 
the first turn of the stem operates the small 
valve inside only, and therefore allows the 
water to pass between the pilot valve and 
the main valve into the standpipe of the 
hydrant. 

Ques. 6:—You are in command of a 
fire in a store on the first floor of a five- 
story tenement. The fire has possession 
of the hall and stairway leading to the sec¬ 
ond floor. You have three fire engines and 
two hook and ladder trucks. The well of 
the stairway is 12 inches wide. Explain 
where you would place your lines of hose. 
State also the use you would make of the 
hook and ladder truck. 

ANS.:—I would order the first engine 
company to stretch one 2 k 2 -inch line in the 
hallway, and order the water started and 
headed up the stairway to prevent the fire 
from spreading. 

I would then order the second engine 
company to stretch a 2^-inch line in the 
store, and order the water to be started. If 
the flames in the store were leaping up¬ 
wards, it would mean that the fire had 
spread to the second floor. Under these 
circumstances I would order this company 
to stretch, a 2-inch line up a ladder in front 
of the building, the ladder being raised by 
the first hook and ladder company arriving 
at the fire. 

I would order the third engine company 
to stretch up the rear fire escape to the 
second floor and play the stream on the 
fire to prevent spreading. 

After the ladder had been raised to the 
second floor by the first hook and ladder 
company, I would order that company to 
open up and ventilate and do all overhaul¬ 
ing that might be necessary; also to close 
doors to keep fire from extending. 

I would order the second hook and lad¬ 
der company to open up and ventilate in 
the front and rear from the top floor of the 
building and to help all persons to escape 
from building. When work was completed, 

I would then, order this company to over¬ 
haul and assist the engine companies in 
performing their duties. I would also in¬ 
struct the hook and ladder company to make 
sure that the fire did not mushroom on up¬ 
per floors through the well-hole. 

NOTE.—This is another of those ques¬ 
tions which, in the opinion of the “Chron¬ 


icle,” would be more appropriate in an ex¬ 
amination for Battalion Chief than for Fire 
Lieutenant. It is inconceivable that a new¬ 
ly appointed Lieutenant would be in charge 
of five companies at a fire. This would 
only be possible if all five companies were 
in charge of newly appointed Lieutenants. 
A Battalion Chief would be in charge of the 
five companies, or if the Battalion Chief 
failed to show up, the Captain oldest in 
service would take charge. 

Chief Kenlon could never admit the pos¬ 
sibility of such a circumstance as a brand- 
new Lieutenant being the senior officer out 
of five company commanders at a New 
York City fire. 

REPORT. 

Question:—Address a report to the Civil 
Service Commission discussing in detail the 
advantages and the disadvantages of the 
introduction of motor-driven fire-fighting 
apparatus in this city. 

N. B.—In rating this report the chief con¬ 
sideration will be given to the knowledge 
of the subject displayed by the candidate, 
but consideration will be given also to con¬ 
ciseness and clearness of expression. Elab¬ 
orate discussions are not desired. Use 
enough words to express your ideas and 
no more. Do not use any signature or 
number. 

ANSWER:— 

New York, February 27, 1912. 

Municipal Civil Service Commission, 

299 Broadway, New York. 

Gentlemen:— 

Motorization of fire apparatus is still in 
the experimental stage, and the advantages 
and disadvantages can only be given with 
reference to the limited observations so far 
possible. 

Advantages. 

1. Motor-propelled apparatus have the 
advantage of speed, which is one of great 
importance. . They can cover about twice 
as much territory in a given time as horses. 

2. They are much cheaper than horses to 
maintain. Horses must be fed whether they 
work or not, but the motor apparatus are 
an expense only when running. It has been 
found that in. busy companies the cost of 
maintenance is less than that of horses, 
while in companies which are not busy the 
cost of maintenance of a motor-propelled 
apparatus for one year is about the cost 
of the maintenance of horses for one 
month. 

3. Notwithstanding the many cases of 
automobiles “stalled” in the snow in winter, 
motor-propelled apparatus are more re¬ 
liable than horses. There is no necessity 
for stalling in the hands of a competent 
operator, for by putting on sufficient speed 
when striking a snow bank there will be no 
staling. By placing chain guards on the 
tires, skidding is eliminated. Horses are 
unreliable on slippery pavements, and are 
liable to fall and become disabled. 


4. Motor apparatus are more sanitary 
than horses. Manure, hay, etc., breed dis¬ 
ease germs. Motor apparatus require far 
less care and cleaning. 

5. Motor vehicles require less space, and 
also the fuel used by them requires far less 
space than is required for the feed of 
horses. 

6. Motor apparatus largely eliminate the 
excitement attendant upon answering the 
gong. Most of the noise and excitement is 
due to the horses. 

7. Under a Two-Platoon system a motor¬ 
ized Fire Department would require only 
one-story buildings, instead of the three- 
story dormitories used at present. This 
would effect a saving of millions of dollars. 
Fire houses would then resemble garages, 
with the addition of a sitting room for the 
men on active duty. 

Disadvantages. 

1. Whether or not the motor apparatus 
have a serious disadvantage depends upon 
the type. There is one engine in use in 
the New York Department—the Waterous 
—-which has the serious disadvantage of not 
being able to thaw out a frozen hydrant. 
This, however, is overcome in the steam¬ 
pumping gasolene-propelled motor appa¬ 
ratus, of which there are a number in the 
Department, and which has been adopted 
as the standard. These are steam fire en¬ 
gines mounted on auto trucks. 

2. One disadvantage is that the motor ap¬ 
paratus are uncertain in starting. Horses 
can be relied upon to start at the sound 
of the gong, but not so with the motor 
apparatus, as gasolene pumping engines are 
still in the experimental stage. 

3. Another disadvantage is that few mem¬ 
bers of the Department are as yet familiar 
with the motor apparatus, and in case of 
absence of the engineer or chauffeur there 
is liable in the early stages to be difficulty 
over a reserve force competent to handle 
them. 

4. There is danger of explosion, due to 
the presence of gasolene. 

Respectfully submitted, 


RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight, 2. 

Ques. 1:—(a) What is the duty of com¬ 
manding officers upon arriving at fires 
where the buildings have automatic sprink¬ 
ler equipments? 

(b) After the first line of hose has been 
stretched in at a fire by an engine company, 
and a second line of hose is required, what 
do the rules demand commanding officers 
to do? 

ANS.:—(a) Commanding officers upon 
arriving at fires in premises having auto¬ 
matic sprinkler systems are required to at 
once report this fact to the officer in com¬ 
mand of the fire. Whenever practicable the 


officer in charge is required to order the 
officers to make proper connections to the 
sprinklers for the purpose of more rapidly 
extinguishing the fire. A report must be 
made of this on the report of operations. 

(b) If a second line is required, it is the 
duty of the commanding officer to order 
the Lieutenant to direct the movement of 
the men and the tender of hose wagon. If 
required, the Captain may order the en¬ 
gineer of steamer or drivers to perform 
duty on the line or pipe. Show in the Re¬ 
port of Operations where the second line 
was taken and the time consumed. 

Ques. 2:—If in the absence of your Fore¬ 
man you are in command, and the follow¬ 
ing matters are brought to your attention, 
explain what you would do to dispose of 
each case correctly: 

(a) A Fireman unaccountably keeps los¬ 
ing small parts of apparatus and other prop¬ 
erty. 

(b) A hose bursts at the last moment be¬ 
fore returning from a fire. 

(c) Driver A reports that a horse has 
been badly lamed on returning from a fire. 

(d) A citizen insists that the men detailed 
to duty at a theater are not properly doing 
their work. 

ANS.:—(a) The first thing I would do 
would be to make an entry of the losses in 
the company journal, stating specifically 
what parts were missing. I would then 
make an investigation with a view of ascer¬ 
taining whether this Fireman had lost more 
parts previously which has not been re¬ 
ported. If after the investigation it was 
found that the loss was due to carelessness 
and neglect, I would prefer charges for 
neglect of duty against the Fireman, and 
would make entry of same in the company 
journal. I would then send the charge 
along through the regular channels. If 
done designedly, as a matter of theft, I 
would also prefer charges. 

(b) I would first remove the bursted 
length if a hose jacket could not be used. 
I would then note the pressure at which 
the hose had burst. I would then reel the 
hose on the hose wagon, and upon return¬ 
ing to quarters would instruct the men to 
mark on the hose the number of pounds 
pressure at which the length had burst. T 
would then order the hose washed and 
cleaned and hung up in the tower. The fol¬ 
lowing day I would notify the officer in 
charge of the repair shops, through regu¬ 
lar channels. I would also make a note of 
the burst, give the brand and date of issue 
of the hose in the Report on Operations. 
When hose was called for and returned I 
would make entry in the company journal. 

(c) I would make careful note of the in¬ 
jury to the horse and report same to the 
Chief of Battalion to send a spare horse to 
take the place of the lame one, procuring 
the consent of the officer in charge of the 
Hospital and Training Stables. I would 
then cause to be entered in the company 
journal a statement of all the facts con¬ 
nected with the incident. I would then 
make a written report to the Chief of De- 


49 



partment. Pending the arrival of the spare 
horse, I would have a Fireman give proper 
attention to the injured horse. 

(d) I would first get the name, address 
and particulars from the complaining citi¬ 
zen. I would ask the citizen for the name 
and badge number of the Fireman, as well 
as the theater detail badge number. With 
all these facts on hand, I would proceed 
to make an investigation as to his guilt. 
I would visit the theater to which he was 
detailed and make a careful inspection to 
ascertain whether there were any visible 
evidences of neglect. I would try to pro¬ 
cure witnesses. If in my opinion the Fire¬ 
man was guilty, I would prefer charges 
against him for neglect of duty. I would 
then make a report to the Chief of Depart¬ 
ment. 

Ques. 3:—State briefly the duties of the 
house watch. 

ANS.:—The duties of the house watch 
are as follows: To see that everything in 
the apparatus room and stable is in its 
place and proper order; that the horses 
and harness have not been injured during 
the tour of their immediate predecessors on 
house watch, and given the horses proper 
care and attention, and have them ready at 
all times for immediate use. See that the 
engine, tender and hook and ladder truck 
is in proper condition for immediate use 
and kept so; that the water in boiler is kept 
at proper temperature; that the apparatus 
for heating water for engine boiler is kept 
constantly supplied with water, and the 
fire properly kept and attended to; that the 
hot air furnaces, boilers, stoves and heaters 
are attended to and kept properly supplied 
with fuel. 

See that manure is immediately taken up 
and placed in manure-box, and stalls kept 
scrupulously clean; that the harness, hose, 
tools, implements and appliances are in 
proper condition for immediate use; that 
the telegraph, telephone, machinery and in¬ 
struments are kept in good order and prop¬ 
erly wound up after each alarm; that all the 
telegraphic calls are properly answered, 
and that the instruments are not tampered 
with. 

Keep the company journal and not cause, 
permit or allow it to be defaced or tam¬ 
pered with. The house watch are held 
strictly responsible for all entries made in 
the journal during their tour of duty, ex¬ 
cept those made personally by the officers. 

They should not permit visitors after nine 
o’clock at night, except by authority from 
an officer; exclude from quarters persons 
entering for the purposes of soliciting, ped¬ 
dling or collecting bills; not allow female 
visitors to go farther than the patrol desk, 
except by permission of the Commanding 
Officer, and make such entry in the com¬ 
pany journal; shall treat visitors politely 
and ask their business, and then call com¬ 
manding officer; not leave quarters under 
any circumstances unless permission of 
commanding officer is secured; not doze or 
sleep, nor permit violations of the rules. 


Call commanding officer if anything im¬ 
proper exists in or about quarters. 

The House Watchmen are required to 
have control and command of the apparatus 
floor, and be responsible for everything that 
takes place thereon, and carefully take no¬ 
tice of any conduct on the part of. any of¬ 
ficer or member detrimental to the interests 
of the Department,, or in regard to which 
conduct charges might be preferred. 

It is the duty of the House Watch to cor¬ 
rectly receive and report to the Command¬ 
ing Officer and company every signal sta¬ 
tion sounded on the gong, or any alarm 
from any cause, whether telegraph, verbal 
or visible, and keep a record in the com¬ 
pany journal of all irregularities on tele¬ 
phone or combination circuits; to immedi¬ 
ately sound the dormitory gong, on receiv¬ 
ing an alarm, assist in hitching the horses 
and proceed with the apparatus to the fire. 
They shall make entries in company jour¬ 
nal as directed by the Commanding Officer 
or as required by the rules. 

Ques. 4:—What is the duty of company 
Commanders in connection with the receipt 
of coal at company quarters? State fully, 
with reasons. 

ANS.:—The duty of the Commanding Of¬ 
ficer in reference to receipt of coal at quar¬ 
ters is to see that the proper coal is deliv¬ 
ered, that the wagons are fully loaded and 
that the weights as stated on the slip signed 
by the fireman in the weigh yards is exact¬ 
ly as represented. It is the duty of the 
Commanding Officer to see that the coal 
delivered is adaptable for the purposes for 
which it is to be used. It is his duty to see 
that the coal is wet down before it is placed 
in the cellar, that an entry in the company 
journal is made to show the amount of coal 
delivered; to forward as soon as possible 
all slips to the Chief of the Bureau of Re¬ 
pairs and Supplies; to make a report to the 
Chief of Department in case the coal does 
not burn well. 

Ques. 5:—What are the principal duties 
of a Company Commander regarding each 
of the following in or around quarters: 

Transaction of business matters. 

Visitors. 

Card playing and other games. 

Gas and electric lights. 

Roof and gutters. 

Manure receptacles. 

Fuel. 

Ashes. 

Dormitories. 

Beds and bedding. 

—Transaction of business.—It is 
the duty of the. Commanding Officer to 
transact all official business of the com¬ 
pany. He makes, requisition for all sup¬ 
plies, reports conditions in the company and 
is the executive head. 

, Visitors. — Commanding Officers are 
bound by the rules to politely escort all 
visitors who .may call at company quarters. 
Habitual visiting and lounging should not 
be allowed, and children, unaccompanied by 


parents or guardians, should not be allowed 
to enter any building connected with the 
company. The Commanding Officer should 
not permit visitors to speak disrespectfully 
of superior officers. No visitors should be 
allowed to enter company quarters while 
the men are engaged in cleaning the appa¬ 
ratus or the quarters. Female visitors 
should not be allowed to pass the house 
watchman’s desk, unless by special permis¬ 
sion of the Commanding Officer. 

Card playing and other games. —Com¬ 
manding Officers are bound by the rules not 
to permit card playing among the members 
of the company after 12 midnight. 

Gas and electric lights. —Commanding Of¬ 
ficers must see that gas burners or electric 
lights throughout the building are prompt¬ 
ly extinguished each day as soon as the 
same can be dispensed with, and that such 
lights are not permitted to remain lighted 
in the cellar, closet or any other part of the 
building during daylight. 

Roofs and Gutters. —Must see that the 
roofs and gutters of company quarters are 
kept clear of rubbish and obstructions at 
all times, so that the rain and snow will run 
freely through the leaders. 

Manure receptacles. —It is the duty of the 
Commanding Officer to see that the manure 
is daily placed outside in proper recepta¬ 
cles. 

Fuel. —Are charged with the economical 
use of all fuel and are held responsible for 
the waste of same. 

Ashes. —Must see that there is no accu¬ 
mulation of ashes and cinders under the 
furnaces in company quarters. Must see 
that the receptacles for ashes when filled 
are removed to the sidewalk. 

Dormitories. —Are required to see that 
the dormitory is kept neat and clean and 
well aired every day when the weather will 
permit. 

Beds and bedding. —Must see that the 
beds are properly made up each morning; 
and that the bedding and all extra cloth¬ 
ing are properly and thoroughly aired once 
in each week in the sun, if possible. 

Ques. 6:—A 20-story building is located 
on the opposite side from a fire, the street 
being 00 feet wide. The building is 
equipped with the size standpipe required 
by law. An engine is located at a hydrant 
200 feet distant from the standpipe. An¬ 
other engine is located at a hydrant 360 feet 
distant from the standpipe. Both engines 
are connected to the standpipe by 3-inch 
lines. You are directed to proceed to the 
9th floor, and, in co-operation with the of¬ 
ficer in command of the other company, 
are directed to Siamese the two companies 
in the best possible manner in order to de¬ 
liver an effective single stream of water 


across the intervening space. Explain in 
detail what fittings, tools, hose and nozzle 
you would use to properly carry out this 
order, and, assuming that you required a 
nozzle pressure of 100 lbs. to the square 
inch, what pressure would you order on the 
pumps of the engines? 

ANS.:—The following fittings would be 
necessary to carry out the order: Three 
lengths of hose, two 2}4-inch and one 3- 
inch; a 3-inch or 2^-inch Siamese; an open 
nozzle of 1^2 inches to fit the 3-inch hose, 
and an axe. 

The tools and fittings and hose would be 
used by one company to connect the stand¬ 
pipe outlet in building and brought up a 
floor above to Siamese. The other 2 ^ 2 -inch 
line would be used by another company 
working on the floor above in attaching the 
line to the standpipe outlet of the building 
and bringing the line up to connect to the 
other inlet of the Siamese. Before connec¬ 
tions are made with the standpipe outlet, 
the house line should be disconnected from 
the standpipe. The 3-inch length of hose 
would be used to connect with the outlet of 
the Siamese. The Perfection Holder would 
be utilized when it had been secured at its 
place in the window. The nozzle would 
then be attached. When these things are 
in position, the water pressure should be 
called for. 

The pressure on the pumps in a flow of 
560 gallons with 100 pounds pressure would 
be: 

Frictional loss: 

7 Three-inch lead 
5 length on Siamese connection; 

14 2 lengths J^-inch hose; 

TO 2 outlets; standpipe loss; 

40.5 Siamese standpipe. 

5 

81.5 

100 


181.05 

28 pounds—200 feet from hydrant, first 

- engine. 

210 pounds, total. 

181 

49 350 ft. from hydrant on second en- 

- gine. 

230 pounds. 

The second engine has more pressure, 
which is required to open the clapper valve 
in Siamese connection of standpipe on the 
street, as the pressure on the first line 
would all be back pressure, which the sec¬ 
ond engine would have to overcome to be 
able to supply the standpipe. It is claimed 
by water engineering experts that two lines 
into one Siamese of standpipe reduces the 
friction at that point just one-half, which 
means that the 28 pounds and 49 pounds 
friction is cut in half, which is 38.5 pounds. 


51 



LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—Specify the restrictions that 
are placed on the construction of wooden 
buildings in the City of New York. When 
such buildings are not prohibited, in what 
manner must they be constructed so as to 
conform as far as possible with the rules of 
the Fire Department and the provisions of 
the Charter? 

ANS.:—No wooden buildings are allowed 
to be erected within the fire limits pre¬ 
scribed by Section 143 of the Building Code, 
with the exception of temporary one-story 
frame buildings, which may be erected for 
the use of builders upon permits issued by 
the Building Superintendent having juris¬ 
diction. If any block within the fire limits 
has 90 per cent, of buildings of frame con¬ 
struction located thereon, a wooden build¬ 
ing may be erected on any vacant lot, not 
to exceed two stories and basement, and 
used for residence only. 

Wooden buildings are allowed to be 
erected outside of the fire limits on the 
following conditions: That 3-story frame 
buildings do not exceed 40 feet; all chim¬ 
neys be built of brick or stone or other fire¬ 
proof material. If of brick, the flues must 
have walls at least 8 inches thick, except 
where flues are lined with burnt clay pipe, 
in which case the walls around flues may be 
4 inches thick. All flue linings must ex¬ 
tend at least 1 foot above the roof boards. 

Where chimneys are built of stone, the 
walls of flues must be not less than 8 inches 
on all sides, and must be lined with burnt 
clay pipe. All chimneys must be topped out 
at least 4 feet above the highest point of 
contact with the roof and properly capp'ed. 

No wooden building is allowed to be 
erected within 3 feet of the side or rear line 
of a lot, unless the space between the studs 
on any such side be filled in solidly with not 
less than 2J4 inches of brickwork or other 
fireproof material. When two or more such 
buildings are built continuous, the party or 
division studding must be not less than 4 
inches thick and filled in solidly with brick¬ 
work or other fireproof material extending 
to under side of roof boards. 

The floor beams must be not less than 2 
inches in thickness. No frame buildings ex¬ 
ceeding three stories in height are allowed 
to be occupied by more than six families. 

Ques. 2:—In the case of each of the fol¬ 
lowing, mention three important precau¬ 
tions to be taken against fire, explosion, 
etc.: (a) Paint Shop, (b) Feed Store, (c) 
Paper Box Factory, (d) Transportation of 
Dynamite by Wagon through city streets. 

ANS.:—(a) The lighting in such estab¬ 
lishments should be by electricity. No 
smoking should be allowed on the premises. 
The shop should contain no other inflam¬ 
mable materials, such as paper, cotton 
waste, etc., unless properly safeguarded. 

(b) Dust should not be allowed to accu¬ 
mulate. The premises should be reason¬ 
ably ventilated so as to prevent spontane¬ 


ous combustion. No naked lights, smoking 
or lighting of matches should be allowed. 

(c) All oily waste used in connection with 
the machinery should be deposited in ap¬ 
proved tin safety cans. The premises 
should be equipped with proper sprinkler 
systems approved by the Fire Commission¬ 
er The storerooms and packing rooms 
should be of fireproof construction. 

(d) Each wagon used for the transporta¬ 
tion of dynamite must have strong running 
gear and a wholly enclosed wooden body 
mounted on suitable springs. 2. Each 
wagon carrying explosives must be painted 
vermilion and have painted on its side 
and back in easily legible white letters at 
least 12 inches high, the word “Explosives.” 
3. No unnecessary stops should be made bj' 
the wagon while in transit, and no smoking 
done in or around the wagon. 

Ques. 3:—Give the principal provisions 
of the law with regard to the installation 
of (a) standpipes; (b) roof tanks; (c) auto¬ 
matic sprinklers; (d) sprinkler connections. 

ANS.:—(a) Every building over 100 feet 
in height already erected, and every build¬ 
ing over 85 feet in height and not exceeding 
150 feet hereafter to be erected, must be 
provided with a 4-inch standpipe running 
from cellar to roof with one two-way 3-inch 
Siamese connection to be placed on street 
above the curb level, and with one 2j4-inch 
outlet with hose attached on each floor, 
placed as near the stairs as practicable. 

All buildings now erected and hereafter 
to be erected exceeding 150 feet in height 
must be provided with a suitable standpipe 
at least 6 inches in diameter. All stand¬ 
pipes must extend to the street and be pro¬ 
vided at or near the sidewalk level with the 
Siamese connections. All standpipes must 
be kept in perfect order, and the person in 
charge of the building must once a month 
make a thorough inspection of the same to 
see that all valves, hose and other appli¬ 
ances are in perfect working order. 

All buildings running from street to 
street or forming an L-shape must be pro¬ 
vided with standpipes for each street front¬ 
age. All buildings used for business or 
manufacturing purposes must be provided 
with standpipes and suitable automatic 
sprinklers, or perforated pipes 2 l / 2 inches 
in diameter, placed along the ceiling line of 
each floor below the first floor, extending 
the full depth of the building. All build¬ 
ings used as theaters or places of public 
amusement must be equipped with stand¬ 
pipes 4 inches in diameter, and hose attach¬ 
ments must be provided on every floor and 
gallery. 

(b) Roof tanks must be provided in every 
building over 85 feet in height. In build¬ 
ings over 150 feet in height a gravity tank 
must be provided on the roof and a section 
tank in the cellar. 

(c) Automatic sprinklers must be pro¬ 
vided in buildings where large numbers of 
people are employed, where inflammable 
materials are stored, in buildings covering 
large areas, etc. Upon the recommenda¬ 
tion of an agent of the Fire Commissioner, 


automatic sprinklers must be provided in 
theaters and places of public amusement. 

(d) In all buildings equipped with sprink¬ 
lers, they must be connected with a two- 
way 3-inch Siamese connection placed on 
the street above the curb level, or con¬ 
nected with a tank on the roof, so that the 
Fire Department can make connection and 
supply the system when necessary, and with 
the proper number of headers, according to 
the diameter of the standpipe. 

Ques. 4:—In accordance with the laws 
standpipes are required in certain buildings. 
What connections are on a standpipe in a 
20-story building? What check-valves are 
used in these standpipes, where are they 
placed and for what purpose? 

ANS.:—The following connections are re¬ 
quired on the standpipe: There must be one 
or more two-way 3-inch Siamese connec¬ 
tions with proper clapper valves with regu¬ 
lation Fire Department threads so that the 
Department hose will fit. These must be 
placed outside the building 18 inches above 
the curb level. The Siamese inlets must be 
provided with plugs. A proper sign must 
also be displayed indicating the use of the 
Siamese. The following check-valves are 
used in these standpipes: horizontal swing 
check-valve on standpipes outside of build¬ 
ing, a drip valve, a 2^4-inch outlet and a 
horizontal swing check-valve on standpipe 
below tank. The horizontal swing check- 
valve on standpipe outside of building is 
used to prevent gravity pressure from caus¬ 
ing the water in the tank to flow to the 
street. The check must be so set as to al¬ 
low Fire Department apparatus to supply 
outlets on riser. The drip valve is placed 
between outside Siamese connection, and 
the lower check-valve for the purpose of al¬ 
lowing water between these points to be 
drained, and thus prevent freezing at this 
place. 

The 2 k 2 -inch outlet must be provided with 
regulation thread and gate valve on every 
floor, including the cellar, sub-cellar and 
roofs. The roof outlet must have a long 
stem valve and drip valve between the valve 
and the roof outlet so as to prevent freezing 
at this point. 

The purpose of the horizontal swing 
check-valve on top of the standpipe below 
the tank is to allow the water from the tank 
to supply the outlets and to prevent Fire 
Department steamers from pumping into 
the tank. The horizontal swing check-valve 
must be placed on a horizontal pipe from 
the tank to riser so as to insure proper 
working. , , . 

In addition to these valves and checks, 
at two locations on the riser, there should 
be placed a pressure-regulating valve with 
a horizontal swing-check on each side of 
same. They should be placed for the fol¬ 
lowing reasons: Falling water increases 1 
pound of pressure in each 2.3 feet of the 
fall. Fifty-five pounds should be the limit 
of gravity pressure on the standpipe outlet. 
Therefore, a pressure-regulating valve is 
necessary to be located 120 feet below the 
tank. 


A check-valve, through a shunt, is located 
on one side of the regulator so as to be the 
means of preventing the water from falling 
below this point. Another check-valve is 
placed on the other side of the regulator, 
which is set in such a manner as to allow 
the water which has passed through the 
regulating valve to pass down. This closes 
when the steamer is pumping into the 
standpipe, thus protecting the regulating 
valve from injuries which might occur with¬ 
out such contrivance. 

NOTE: Strictly speaking, the question 
does not call for so full an answer, but it 
is a good answer and the explanatory mat¬ 
ter is given for purposes of instruction. 

Ques. 5:—In a proposed building for use 
as a theater, specify the requirements which 
are intended to secure protection against 
fire. What officials must approve construc¬ 
tion before it can be opened for public use? 

ANS.:—Part 21, Section 109, of the Build¬ 
ing Code covers the construction of thea¬ 
ters seating over 300 persons. Section 32 
of the Building Code specifies that walls 
must be of brick and of proper thickness. 
The auditorium is required to be separated 
from the entrance vestibule and from the 
rooms above the entrance vestibule by in¬ 
terior walls of fireproof material. 

The ceiling over the auditorium and all 
partitions must be of fireproof material. 
Stairways must be of fireproof construction 
throughout. If a portion of building is used 
for offices, stores or apartments, that por¬ 
tion must be separated from the building 
proper by brick walls and no hazardous 
business of any nature is permitted to be 
operated upon the premises. 

The proscenium wall separating the au¬ 
ditorium from the stage must be carried up 
at least 4 feet higher than the stage roof, 
or above the auditorium roof if the latter be 
higher. The frame of the proscenium must 
be of fireproof material and the proscenium 
opening must be provided with a fireproof 
curtain placed at least 3 feet from the foot¬ 
lights. 

The footlights must be in metal troughs, 
protected by wire net work and also by a 
strong wire guard and chain placed not 
less than 2 feet from the footlights. 

Fly galleries and rigging loft over the 
stage must be of steel or iron and fireproof 
material. Over the stage it is required that 
there be metal skylights, glazed, the panes 
of glass to be not less than 300 square 
inches each and the area of the skylights 
must be not less than one-eighth the area 
of the stage. The skylights must be so ar¬ 
ranged as to open instantly upon the cut¬ 
ting or burning of a hempen cord which 
holds the skylight closed. 

All scenery, curtains, decorations and 
woodwork on the stage must be of fireproof 
material or rendered fireproof by being 
painted or saturated with some non-com¬ 
bustible material. The boiler rooms must 
be located outside of the building. The bor¬ 
der lights must be suspended by 10 feet of 
wire rope and be of approved construction. 
Outside shut-off of gaslights must be pro- 


53 


vided. All stage lights must have strong 
metal guards soldered to the fixtures. A 
double metal shaft must be provided to car¬ 
ry off the heated air, and it must be located 
over the main chandelier in the auditorium. 

A 4-inch standpipe must be provided on 
each side of the auditorium with a hose out¬ 
let on each tier, and a 4-inch standpipe must 
be placed on each side of the stage with an 
outlet on each tier or gallery and an out¬ 
let in the property room and carpenter shop. 
At least 100 feet of hose, with nozzle at¬ 
tached, must be provided at each outlet. 
The water supply must be from pumps 
enough to supply all the standpipes. The 
pumps must be automatic and have a capac¬ 
ity of at least 250 gallons per minute and 
must be connected directly with the street 
mains. 

There must be a separate system of auto¬ 
matic sprinklers supplied from tanks on the 
roof placed over ceiling of stage and on 
each side of the proscenium opening so as 
to cover every square of the stage when the 
sprinklers are in operation. Sprinklers are 
required to be placed in dressing rooms, 
under the stage, in the carpenter shop, in 
the paint store and in the property room. 
It is required that at least four casks full 
of water be placed on the stage, with at 
least two buckets to each cask. Extinguish¬ 
ers are also required to be present, as well 
as at least four axes and the following 
hooks: two 25-feet hooks; two 15-feet 
hooks, and two 10-feet hooks on each tier 
of the stage. 

The following officials are required to 
approve the construction before the theater 
can be opened for public use: Regarding the 
construction, the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings and the Fire Commissioner; regarding 
the electrical equipment, the Department of 
Water Supply, Gas and Electricity; regard¬ 
ing sanitation, the Health Department; re¬ 
garding the issuance of license, Police 
Department. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.) 

Fire Department. 

Date: September 27, 1907. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Ques. 1:—Give a detailed account of the 
course to be followed by company comman¬ 
ders in order to make themselves acquainted 
with such buildings in their districts as may 
be occupied by large numbers of people, and 
specify the classes of buildings which re¬ 
quire the particular attention of the local 
fire officials. 

ANS.:—Shall periodically inspect all 
churches, hotels, factories, warehouses, 
theaters, stores and other buildings used for 
purposes of instruction, amusement, manu¬ 
facture, etc., and familiarize themselves with 
every building, place or premises in their 
districts and keep a department record, in 
building record journal, describing them. 


Shall acquaint officers in command at fires 
in their districts of all dangerous condi¬ 
tions and make detailed separate written re¬ 
port of each unsafe building, stating viola¬ 
tions of law and ordinances, giving section 
covering violation, date of erection of build¬ 
ing and endorse the street and number on 
the back of the report. (Theaters shall not 
be inspected during performances.) 

Defective dumbwaiter shafts shall be re¬ 
ported as a violation of the Tenement 
House Law, if in a Tenement House 
erected since April 10th, 1901. In all 

buildings erected prior to that date they 
shall be reported as a Violation of the 
Building Code and not as a Violation of 
Section 780 of the Charter. 

Furnished-room houses are covered by 
Sec. 103 of the Building Code; lumber and 
other combustible materials stored in cel¬ 
lars, by Sec. 771 of the Charter. 

Ques. 2:—How many men are permitted 
at one time on a 15-foot ladder at a fire? 
How many on a 20-foot ladder? How many 
on a 30-foot ladder? How many on a 35- 
foot ladder? 

ANS.:—'One on each 10 to 15-foot ladder. 

Two on each 20, 25 and 30-foot ladder. 

Three on each ladder more than 30 feet 

long. 

When used for pipe lines, the pipeman 
only will be permitted at the pipe, and he 
will fasten the line to an iron round if con¬ 
veniently near; or, if not, he will hitch it 
on two wooden rounds in such manner as 
to prevent the kinking of the pipe. 

If it be a 35-foot ladder, the second man 
shall take position just below the point at 
which the pressure bends the ladder, where 
the line will also be fastened, preferably to 
an iron round, or to two wooden rounds. 

With all other ladders, the second man 
shall take position with his feet resting 
upon the first round above the point where 
the poles support the ladder, where the line 
shall be fastened in the manner above pre¬ 
scribed. 

If a third man is required, he shall take 
position on the ladder near the butt. 

While their services are needed in shift¬ 
ing the line, the second and third man will 
not be required to maintain the prescribed 
position. 

After shifting the line, the second and 
third men will resume their positions and 
fasten it as before. 

Ques. 3:—If required as company com¬ 
mander, how would you send out borough 
signal for third alarm for companies to re¬ 
spond from Manhattan to Brooklyn from 
Box 750, Manhattan, to Box 83, Brooklyn? 
ANS.:—7—7, 3—3—750. 

6—6, 3—3, 83. 

Ques. 5:—(a) What grades of feed for 
horses are used in the Fire Department? 
i ell briefly how you would distinguish each, 
(b) What is the duty of officers in reference 
to horses which show peculiarities of dis¬ 
position? 

ANS.:—(a) Hay—No. 1. 


54 



Straw—Long rye. 

Oats—No. 2, white clipped. 

Bran, Wheat—Fresh, clean and sweet. 

Hay should be fresh, clean and sweet and 
not have any weeds or dirt in the same. 

Straw should be long and clean. 

Oats: The kernels shall be filled, and are 
all right if sweet. Can be tasted. If not in 
good condition, they are sour. 

Bran: By being clean, sweet and fresh. 

(b) From personal observation or other¬ 
wise, learn the disposition, habits and pecu¬ 
liarities of their horses. Treat them kindly, 
humor them when necessary; teach them by 
kindness to come promptly to the pole 
when the gong sounds and submit to be 
harnessed and hitched with the least pos¬ 
sible delay. 

Commanding Officers and Drivers will 
see that they have the bit best adapted to 
the mouth of each particular horse. See 
that the harness and collar fits properly, 
and that each horse is properly shod. Look 
to the paring of the hoof, and its peculiari¬ 
ties; the shoe must fit the hoof. 


LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Ques. 1:—(a) How is the Municipal Ex¬ 
plosive Commission constituted and what is 
the nature of the work it has to do? (b) 
What do the ordinances require of a per¬ 
son who can sell or keep guncotton, dyna¬ 
mite or other explosives within the city 
limits ? 

ANS.:—(a) See answer to Ques. 1, Laws 
and Ordinances, Sept. 23, 1907. (It will 
cover the first part of the question.) 

(b) Such person must make written appli¬ 
cation to the Fire Commissioner for a 
license, giving name, location of office or 
place of business. If for blasting purposes, 
the nature of site of work to be performed, 
proposed place where such explosives are 
to be kept and class of magazine or maga¬ 
zines. Must also have a person holding a 
certificate of fitness issued to him by the 
Fire Commissioner qualifying him to handle 
and take care of the same. Must also file 
a bond approved by the Comptroller in 
such sum as the Municipal Explosives Com¬ 
mission may prescribe, to pay for any loss 
or damage caused by explosion. 

Ques. 2:—What are the provisions of law 
with reference to fire escapes in tenement 
houses and how are they to be placed with 
reference to apartments of tenants? 

ANS.:—Every non-fireproof tenement 
house, unless already provided with outside 
fireproof stairways directly accessible to 
each apartment, shall have fire escapes lo¬ 
cated and constructed as the Tenement 
House Law requires, except that tenement 
houses that are less than four stories in 
height and which do not contain accommo¬ 
dations for more than four families in all 
may be equipped with such iron, steel oi 
wire cable fire escapes as the Tenement 
House Department may approve. 

Such escapes must be capable of sustain¬ 
ing 2,000 pounds and be of sufficient length 


to reach from the top floor to the ground, 
with rounds at least 15 inches in length 
and not more than 12 inches apart. They 
shall be open from at least one window of 
each apartment, but must not include the 
window of a water-closet, stair hall or bath¬ 
room, and no fire escape shall be placed 
in a court, except that an apartment that 
does not front on either street or yard may 
have a fire escape placed therein, provided 
that it connects at the cellar or first floor 
with a fireproof passageway at least 7 feet 
high and 3 feet wide leading in a direct 
line to the street. 

A balcony fire escape will be considered 
sufficient only when the apartments are 
separated by unpierced fireproof walls, ex¬ 
cept windows in airshafts. 

Ques. 3:—In what way do the Building 
Department and Tenement House Depart¬ 
ment co-operate with the Fire Department? 

ANS.:—Both of these departments co¬ 
operate with the Fire Department in sev¬ 
eral ways, as follows: In making inspec¬ 
tions of buildings. When either of these 
departments finds violation of laws or or¬ 
dinances over which the Fire Department 
has control they notify the Fire Depart¬ 
ment of same. In like manner, when the 
Fire Department finds violations of laws 
or ordinances over which these depart¬ 
ments have supervision such information is 
reported to them, as the case may be. The 
Building Department in a particular man¬ 
ner sees that all buildings comply with the 
provisions of the Building Code; safe¬ 
guarding same from danger from fire; that 
sufficient means of exit are provided in case 
of fire or panic; that aisles and exits in 
theaters and in all buildings where large 
numbers of persons congregate are kept 
clear; that fireproof doors and shutters, 
also fire escapes, are on all buildings re¬ 
quiring same; that hoistways, well-holes, 
trap doors and iron shutters are closed at 
the completion of the business of each day; 
also where walls of a building fall and bod¬ 
ies are under it, both departments co-oper¬ 
ate to get same. 

The Tenement House Department in see¬ 
ing that sufficient means of egress are pro¬ 
vided in case of fire or panic; that fire es¬ 
capes are not obstructed; that combustible 
materials are not allowed to be kept on 
premises without peimit from Fire Depart¬ 
ment; that places where bakeries, liquors, 
drugs, paints, etc., are kept are properly 
protected; by forbidding closets under 
stairs, and in a word doing everything to 
prevent fire or spread of same. 

Ques. 4:—What do laws and ordinances 
provide regarding the overcrowding of 
theaters? 

ANS.:—No person shall be allowed to 
stand or sit in any aisle or passageway dur¬ 
ing any performance or while such place is 
open to the public. The law provides that 
the proprietor or manager, usher, agent or 
employee of the proprietor or manager 
then present, be notified, and if they fail to 
forthwith cause that person overcrowding 


to vacate the same, then the person so no¬ 
tified shall be deemed to have violated the 
provisions of law in relation thereto and 
shall be subject to the penalty prescribed 
in this act, which is a fine of $50 for each 
such offence. 

Ques. 5:—It is reported by a citizen at 
company quarters that a certain hydrant in 
the district is obstructed. On investigation 
it is found that building materials are piled 
upon both sides, on the east to within 11 
feet and on the west to within 9 feet. What 
action should be taken by the Company 
Commander? 

AN S.:—The Company Commander 
should immediately notify the owner or 
claimant of such material on the west to be 
removed forthwith, and if said owner failed 
to remove same the Company Commander 
should cause its removal and notify the 
Fire Commissioner. The owner to bear 
cost and expenses of same and suffer any 
risks involved. Also find out if such claim¬ 
ant had permit from Building Department 
for placing material on any part of side¬ 
walk. If not, notify Building Department 
of same through the Chief of Department. 
The Fire Commissioner can cause same to 
be removed. 


ADMINISTRATION. 

Ques: 1:—Name the companies that 
would respond to a third alarm of fire at 
the Lion Brewery, Manhattan, or at the 
Hotel St. George, Brooklyn. (Answer one 
and not both.) 

ANS.:—See assignment book. 

Ques. 2:—Under the rules of what bu¬ 
reau of the Fire Department have the sprin¬ 
kler systems been installed? Describe the 
system in detail and mention the sections 
of the city in which the system is in opera¬ 
tion. 

ANS.:—Under the rules of the Bureau of 
Violations and Auxiliary Fire Appliances.* 

The sprinkler system consists of lines of 
pipes placed in buildings, generally imme¬ 
diately underneath the ceiling, with open¬ 
ings spaced so as to cover the entire floor 
space. The openings are half-closed by 
fusible plugs which melt at a given temper¬ 
ature. There are wet and dry systems. 

The wet system is always supplied with 
water, which upon the melting of the plugs 
allows the water to issue therefrom. 

The dry system is charged with air pres¬ 
sure, which holds closed a valve in riser. 
When the heat melts the plugs the air 
rushes out, thereby releasing the valve in 
riser and allowing the water to follow. 
This system is used in places where water 
in pipes would be liable to freeze. 

They are supplied from a tank on the 
roof or by direct connection with city 
mains, and some are so arranged that con¬ 


* Now under jurisdiction of Fire Preven¬ 
tion Bureau. 


nections can be made with outside connec¬ 
tions for Fire Department. 

There is also a perforated pipe system 
for cellar and sub-cellars with connections 
for Fire Department. These pipes are 
placed underneath the ceilings about 12*4 
inches apart. The holes are about 1-16 and 

staggered. . , , 

Automatic sprinklers are placed through¬ 
out the city and in all large buildings in 
which combustible materials are stored, 
and on all floors of such buildings, while 
the perforated pipe system is almost ex¬ 
clusively in the downtown mercantile dis¬ 
tricts, particularly along Broadway where 
there are sub-cellars. 

The advantages of the automatic sprin¬ 
kler are that when a fire occurs, especially 
at night time, when nobody is around to 
see the same, the sprinkler is doing its 
work to extinguish or hold the fire until 
the arrival of the Fire Department. The 
system is so arranged that when the fuse 
melts and water starts, an alarm is turned 
in to the headquarters of the alarm or to 
the City Fire Department, as the case may 
be, thereby giving immediate warning of a 
fire which otherwise may reach large pro¬ 
portions before being discovered. 

The perforated pipe system makes it pos¬ 
sible to reach the seat of a fire in cellars 
and sub-cellars which would be impossible 
by ordinary means when you take into con¬ 
sideration the length of some of these cel¬ 
lars and sub-cellars; as much as 250 feet 
charged with smoke. Without the per¬ 
forated pipes or sprinklers it would be im¬ 
possible to reach the seat of the fire. In 
such an emergency their value is incalcu¬ 
lable. 

Ques. 3:—Suppose that upon arriving at 
what seemed to be a small fire, you are in¬ 
formed that in the basement where the 
conflagration started there were stored 50 
barrels of quicklime. What would you do? 
Answer fully. 

ANS.:—I would try to extinguish same 
by some smothering process, using sand, 
if obtainable, or dirt, or other matter be¬ 
sides water; or, if possible, remove the lime. 

If I had to use water, I would try not to 
let it come in contact with the lime. 

If the fire was of such a character or had 
assumed such proportions and water had to 
be used, I would then try and confine it to 
the starting point, and if necessary send for 
additional help and use large volumes of 
water to extinguish same. 

I would also find out who the owner of 
the lime was and see whether he had a per¬ 
mit for same. 

Ques. 4:—If fire occurred on streets 
where elevated railroad tracks were close 
to the building, name briefly the dangers 
and difficulties to be looked for and the 
precautions to be taken. 

ANS.:—The dangers to be looked for 
would be from the electricity from the 
third rail in fighting fire; also from trains 
passing. 

The difficulties would be in placing out- 


56 



side streams or water tower in position to 
fight fire; also from danger of building col¬ 
lapsing, especially from passing trains. 

Precautions to be taken: Notify station 
agent on each side of fire to notify power 
station to cut off electric power, in the 
meantime placing red flags in the day, and 
red lanterns at night, a safe distance on 
each side of fire on elevated structure to 
prevent trains approaching location of fire. 

When electric current is cut off structure 
may be used to place lines from which to 
fight fire. If used before power is cut off 
great care must be taken not to get in con¬ 
tact with third rail, even with the stream 
of water, as water is a conductor of elec¬ 
tricity, which would flash back on stream 
of water, and if the man on pipe happened 
to have his hand on brass nozzle, it would 
be liable to kill him. 

Ques. 5:—On arriving at a fire in the im¬ 
mediate vicinity of a large public school 
you would have reason to believe that the 
blaze would develop into, state just what 
you would do in regard to the school in 
question. 

ANS.:—From the question I presume 
that it is in the daytime during school 
hours, as I don’t think such building would 
require any more attention at night time 
than any other building (uninhabited). 

In daytime and while school was in prog¬ 
ress, I would immediately and as quickly as 
possible notify the principal of such school 
to dismiss the pupils of such school and if 
possible in the opposite direction to the 
fire. 

I would also cause as little noise as pos¬ 
sible with bells, gongs or whistles, while 
approaching same. 

In going into such school I would do so 
in a matter-of-fact way, not rush up wildly 
and perhaps cause a panic by so doing. 

Keep main entrance clear. Under no cir¬ 
cumstances bring hose in there while 
school is being emptied. If necessary, 
raise ladder to window and stretch in that 
way. 

REPORT. 

One member of your company makes a 
violent assault on another, with the result 
that a doctor has to be called in to attend 
the injured man. Make a report of the case 
to the proper official, give all the essential 
particulars, and place on record such facts 
as may be needed by the Commissioner to 
guide him in his future action. 

ANSWER:— 

New York, Sept. 27, 1907. 
Chief of Department: 

Sir—In compliance with Sec. 80, R. & 
R., I respectfully report that at 10 A. M. on 
this date, at the quarters of H. & L. Co. 
No. —, Fireman 1st Grade Jim Doe of H. 
& L. Co. No. — violently assaulted Fire¬ 
man 1st Grade Chris O’Donnell with a 
6-foot hook, striking him across the back 
and face, necessitating my calling Medical 


Officer Long, who, after dressing the 
wound, granted Fireman O’Donnell a sick 
leave for lacerations on the face and back. 

I questioned Fireman Doe, who stated 
that Fireman O’Donnell owed him a large 
sum of money and refused to return it, and 
that he had owed it to him for 4 months, 
and that he would wait no longer. When 
I asked him why he had not told me about 
it stated that he was able to handle it him¬ 
self, as the money belonged to his brother. 

Very respectfully, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.) 

Fire Department. 

Date: September 26, 1907. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Ques. 1:—A fireman who has been ab¬ 
sent for a week without leave, reports back 
and goes to work with the explanation that 
he has been sick. Is any rule violated? If 
so, under what circumstances could he go 
to work while the cause of absence is still 
being investigated? 

ANS.:—A rule is violated. All firemen 
must receive sick leaves, first obtaining the 
permission of the Company Commander. 
All applications for sick leave must be 
made in writing and be forwarded to the 
Chief of Department or the Deputy Chief 
in charge of that Division, who may refer 
the communication to the Medical Officers 
for examination. No member of the De¬ 
partment who shall have absented himself 
for more than five days without leave and 
then reports for duty shall be permitted to 
report back to his company for duty, but 
will be continued to be carried as absent 
without leave until a decision is arrived in 
his case, unless by a written direction from 
the Chief of Department giving him per¬ 
mission to return to duty. 

Ques. 2:—What articles of property in 
the possession of members of the uni¬ 
formed force must be examined at each 
roll call, and what are the penalties in¬ 
flicted for the loss of each of them? 

ANS.:—Cap badge, $5 penalty; coat 
badge, penalty, $5; theater detail badge, $5; 
official badge, $5; insignia of rank, $1; fire- 
alarm box key, $1; belt, copy of Rules and 
Regulation, $1. Charges for neglect of 
duty must also be made, if any member 
loses any of these articles. 

Ques. 3:—What follows the order: 
“Stretch in”? What follows if a second 
line is required? 

ANS.:—Following the order “Stretch 
in,” the tender or hose wagon runs in as 
near to the fire as practicable, avoiding 
running over hose, and keeping on the side 
of the street where the engine is located, 
followed by the Assistant Foreman and all 


57 




the men, except those engaged at the en¬ 
gine. The man left at the hind wheel at¬ 
taches the hose to the engine, and tjie 
driver takes his horses from the pole when 
necessary. If a second line is required, the 
Foreman orders the Assistant Foreman to 
direct the movements of the men and the 
tender or hose wagon. If required, the 
Foreman orders the Engineer of Steamer 
or drivers to perform duty on the line or 
pipe. 

Ques. 4:—Describe the conditions which 
should be observed in regulating leaves of 
absence, so as to keep the fire company at 
all times in a thoroughly efficient state. 

ANS.:—Leaves of absence should be so 
regulated that there should at all times be 
available for fire duty in each company not 
less than one officer, one engineer of 
steamer, drivers, tillerman, and a number 
of men sufficient to properly man and op¬ 
erate the apparatus. Companies having a 
total of twelve or more are permitted to 
have one officer and one member absent on 
regular leaves at the same time. Those 
having an aggregate of ten or less, only 
one such leave, including officers and mem¬ 
bers, can be granted for or during the same 
period. But during vacation period one ad¬ 
ditional regular leave may be granted to a 
member of such company. 

Ques. 5:—What are the rules concerning 
the feeding and watering of horses that 
they may be kept in the best possible con¬ 
dition? 

ANS.:—Horses may be fed three quarts 
of oats three times a day and as often as it 
may be found necessary to keep their bow¬ 
els in good order; a bran and oat mash, 
with a cupful of oil meal and a teaspoonful 
of salt, may be given instead of the even¬ 
ing feed of oats. At 8 P. M. bedding 
should be laid and about 12 pounds of hay 
placed before them. Horses should be of¬ 
fered water at least six times during each 
24 hours; a few swallows of water should 
be given also when they are tired and 
warm after a run, but horses should not be 
fed while in such a condition. More food 
may be allowed certain horses, if an appli¬ 
cation for same is made to the Division of 
Horses, Bureau of Repairs and Supplies. A 
veterinarian is then sent, who examines the 
horse and determines the proper amount of 
food to be allowed. 


LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Ques. 1:—(a) Name the styles or types 
of buildings in which fire escapes are re¬ 
quired. (b) What notice must the manu¬ 
facturer attach to his work? (c) In build¬ 
ings requiring fire escapes, what provisions 
are provided by law for exits through scut¬ 
tle or bulkhead, as the case may be? 

ANS.:—(a) Every dwelling occupied or 
built to be occupied by three or more fam¬ 
ilies, and every building more than three 
stories occupied and used as a hotel or 
lodging house, and every boarding house 
having more than fifteen sleeping rooms 


58 


above the basement; every factory, mill 
manufactory, workshop, hospital, asylum or 
institution for the treatment or care of in¬ 
valids; every building of three stories or 
over used and occupied as a store or work¬ 
room; every building in whole or in part 
occupied or used as a school or place of in¬ 
struction or assembly, and all office build¬ 
ings five stories in height and over. 

(b) A notice on a cast-iron plate securely 
fastened to balcony to the effect that any 
person using such fire escape for any other 
purpose than a means of egress in case of 
fire, or allowing incumbrances to be placed 
thereon, shall be liable to a penalty of $10, 
or imprisonment for 10 days. 

(c) In buildings requiring fire escapes 
there shall be stationary iron ladders lead¬ 
ing to the scuttle in roof thereof, and all 
scuttles and ladders shall be kept at all 
times so as to be ready for immediate use. 
It a bulkhead is used instead of a scuttle 
it shall have stairs with sufficient guard¬ 
rail or handrail leading to the roof. In 
case the building be a tenement house the 
door in the bulkhead or scuttle shall at no 
time be locked, but may be fastened on the 
inside by movable bolts. 

Ques. 2:—Under what conditions are 
dealers in blasting materials permitted to 
employ persons to take care of or handle 
the explosives used in their business? 

ANS.:—Under the condition that they 
possess a certificate of fitness issued to 
them by the Fire Commissioner certifying, 
that they are competent to perform all the 
duties required and capable of taking the 
necessary precautions. 


Ques. 3:—(a) What officers of the Fire 
Department, if any, have right to enter 
buildings for the purpose of inspection, 
and at what time may such inspection be 
made? (b) What power have they to en¬ 
force compliance with laws or ordinances, 
and what penalty is prescribed for failure 
to obey a Fire Department order? 

ANS.:—(a) The Fire Commissioner, his 
officers and agents under the direction of 
the Fire Commissioner, are empowered at 
any and all times to enter buildings to 
make inspections. Chapter 771 of the 
.arter. . Fire Marshals may enter any 
building in which fire occurred or building 
adjacent thereto at any time of the day or 
night in investigating the origin of such 


j. officers making the inspectio 
upon finding a violation of law or oi 
dinance, or upon finding any defective c 
dangerous condition existing therein, ma 
deliver a written or printed notice contair 
ing a copy of the provisions in referenc 
thereto, and a notice of any violation there 
ot, also a notice to remove or amend th 
same within a specified period to be name 
therein. $25 for failure to comply withi 
time, $5 for each additional day. 

INUlt:—the provisions are much mot 
drastic in the Fire Prevention Law of 191 
which reorganized the Department and ir 


creased the powers of the Commissioner. 
(Date, March 8, 1913.) 

Ques. 4:—A Fireman is detailed to the X 
Theater and finds adjustable or folding 
chairs attached to aisle seats. He orders 
their removal, but the proprietor of the 
house refuses on the ground that they are 
never used. What is the Fireman’s duty? 
Give reasons for your answer. 

ANS.:—It is his duty when he gives no¬ 
tice to have some witnesses of the fact, 
and upon returning to quarters make out 
his report embracing all of the particulars, 
stating the section of the law violated, in 
what manner it was violated and his action 
in the matter, giving the names of wit¬ 
nesses. The fact that the chairs were 
never used did not matter, as they are an 
obstruction, and in case of panic a very bad 
obstruction at that, as they would be liable 
to become loose from their fastenings. 

Ques. 5:—(a) How is the life insurance of 
the Fire Department maintained? (b) To 
whom and to what amount and when are 
payments made from the Life Insurance 
Fund? 

ANS.:—(a) By monthly deductions from 
the pay of the officers and members of the 
Fire Department, also from probationary 
and retired members and from the pay of 
other employees who have availed them¬ 
selves of this provision. The sum of $1 un¬ 
til the fund equals $25,000, to be deposited 
by the Treasurer of the Relief Fund to the 
credit of the N. Y. Fire Department In¬ 
surance Fund. When the Fund has 
reached $25,000, assessments shall cease, 
but in case the number of deaths be more 
than the Fund should be able to meet, then 
the assessment may be raised to not ex¬ 
ceeding $2 per month from each pay or 
pension, as the case may be. If in any year 
the number of deaths should be more than 
the Fund would be able to meet, the trus¬ 
tee of the Relief Fund may in his discre¬ 
tion turn over to the Life Insurance Fund 
a sum of not more than $5,000. 

(b) In case of the death of any member 
or employee of the Department in the serv¬ 
ice thereof who has availed himself of this 
provision, or of any pensioner or retired 
member of said Department so contribut¬ 
ing, there shall be paid to the widow, or 
if there be no widow, to the legal repre¬ 
sentative of such deceased person, the sum 
of $1,000 out of the moneys so assessed. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

Ques. 1:—Name the companies that 
would respond to Clafflin’s, Church and 
Worth Streets, on third alarm. 

ANS.:—-See assignment book. 

Ques. 2:—Describe the quickest and most 
effective way you would get your company 
to work on a standpipe for a 20-story build¬ 
ing. 

ANS.:—Take the nearest hydrant to the 
building; if engine is used, connect your 
engine to same and connect your hose to 


engine. If in high-pressure zone, connect 
direct to hydrant. Then stretch hose to 
the Siamese connection of street level out¬ 
side of building and connect to same. Then 
take the elevator to the floor on fire, if pos¬ 
sible to reach it. If not, get off at floor 
underneath, taking with you two lengths 
of 2j4-inch hose and connect to the outlet 
on said floor. . 

There is hose attached to the outlets in 
buildings which can be used. The two 
lengths taken up in the building are taken 
as a precaution in case the hose in building 
should burst, or should be of sufficient 
length to reach the seat of the fire. 

If I had another officer with me to see 
that the connections were properly made 
in the street, I would take a couple of men 
with me while the connections were being 
made and proceed to floor. Elevators in a 
20-story building are required to be in 
readiness at all times of the day and night 
and including Sundays and holidays. I 
would also have a man go to the cellar and 
up the stairs to see that all outlets were 
closed. 

Ques. 3:—Explain how the Salvage Corps 
come in contact with and co-operate with 
the Fire Department. 

ANS.:—In protecting property from 
damage by water used at fires, the Salvage 
Corps play an important part. Their stations 
are equipped with fire alarm telegraph and 
they answer alarms of fire in the greater 
part of the city. They carry on their wag¬ 
ons several waterproof covers which they 
use in covering up goods in danger of dam¬ 
age from water used in the extinguishing 
of fire. They also open up floors in cer¬ 
tain cases to let water off the floors,-and 
they also co-operate with the Fire Depart¬ 
ment in extinguishing fire, that is, in cer¬ 
tain localities where their station is near 
the scene of the fire and they arrive there 
first, they extinguish same by use of ex¬ 
tinguishers which they carry; that is, if the 
fire can be extinguished by such means. 
They also assist in helping to detect incen¬ 
diaries, which, being employed by the vari¬ 
ous insurance companies, it is to their ad¬ 
vantage to do. 

Ques. 4:—If a line of hose should burst 
between the 5th and 6th floors of a 6-story 
building, how should it be replaced? 

ANS.:—Shout down to the engineer, if 
sufficiently near. If not, send a man down 
and tell him to shut off the water and dis¬ 
connect the line with the assistance of the 
driver on the street near the building. Put 
in a length of hose, telling them to leave 
one length between where they break same 
and the building, so that when the hose is 
uncoupled it can be drawn up and the 
bursted length taken out while the men on 
the street are putting in the additional 
length, thus losing the least time. If the 
leak were such that a hose jacket would 
stop it, I would procure one from the near¬ 
est wagon and put it on, thereby saving 
time. 


59 


Ques. 5:—On the way to a fire with your 
company you find the street blocked as a 
result of a collision between a trolley car 
and an automobile, both of which are on 
fire. Several persons seriously injured are 
imprisoned in the wreck and are urgently 
in need of assistance. In the absence of 
the police, what would you do under the 
circumstances? 

ANS.:—-At the time of this examination 
I would immediately order the company to 
extricate the imprisoned persons, while I 
would proceed to the nearest fire alarm box 
and send the breakdown signal; also call 
for a sufficient number of ambulances to 
aid the injured. 

If I was in command of an engine com¬ 
pany, I would also call one or more truck 
companies, as I thought necessary. Vice 
versa, if in charge of a truck company, call 
for engine company or companies. I would 
also report immediately by telephone pre¬ 
liminary particulars to Department Head¬ 
quarters. 

When the injured were removed and the 
fire extinguished, I would get full particu¬ 
lars as to names, etc., and on my return to 
quarters I would make a special report of 
same and forward it to the Chief of De¬ 
partment. 

But since this examination there has been 
issued a special order forbidding the send¬ 
ing in of the breakdown signal, except in 
case of breakdown or accident to appara¬ 
tus. I would omit sending said signal and 
when sending preliminary account I would 
let the operator know that I could not 
reach the fire that I was proceeding to. 


REPORT. 

As Company Commander you ascertain 
that the walls in a certain building are 
cracked and in danger of falling. Make the 
necessary report to the proper official and 
recommend what steps should be taken to 
prevent accident. 

ANSWER:— 


New York, Sept. 26, 1907. 
Chief of Department, 

Sir:—In compliance with Sec. 51, R. & 
R., I respectfully report that at 10 A. M. 
this day I discovered the walls on the 1st 
and 2nd floors in the front of Loft Build¬ 
ing, No. 1357 West Broadway, on the south 
side, between Bleecker and Houston 
Streets, are cracked and in danger of fall¬ 
ing. 

I to-day notified the Building Dep’t by 
telephone, and they said they would give it 
their immediate attention. I also notified 
Policeman Jones, who was on post there at 
the time, of the dangerous condition of the 
walls, and advised him not to allow any 
persons to enter the building until the 
building was placed in a safe condition. 

I recommend that the tenants be re¬ 


60 


quired to vacate until building is placed in 
safe condition. 

Very respectfully, 


Captain, Eng. Co. No. 13. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n. 

ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.) 

Fire Department. 

Date: September 25, 1907. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Ques. 1:—If when on your way to a fire 
on special call, you discover another fire, 
state fully the action you should take un¬ 
der the circumstances as Company Com¬ 
mander. 

ANS.:—I would drop off a Fireman, to 
see if he could extinguish the fire, and tell 
him to pull the nearest alarm box if he 
wasn’t able to cope with it. If it was in 
my district, get all the particulars and for¬ 
ward a Fire Report, and also notify Dep’t 
Hdqtrs. by telephone. 


Ques. 2:—Should the ordinary pressure 
of water at a fire not be sufficient for the 
work to be performed, what is required by 
the rules and regulations? 

ANS.:—When higher pressures are re¬ 
quired, the controlling nozzles should not 
be shut off until the pressure is reduced on 
the line. In case the pressure is not suffi¬ 
cient for work to be performed, such as 
forcing water through a long line of hose 
or pipe in an elevated position, or when 
the full power of the engine is required, the 
pressure may be increased by the order of 
the Commanding Officer. The churn valve 
and sprinkler should be closed and the re¬ 
lief valve should be cut out. 


Vues, o:—yvnat are the rules governing 
the use of pipe lines by pipe men on lad¬ 
ders? 

ANS.:—When ladders are used for pipe 
lines, the pipe man only should be permit¬ 
ted at the pipe, and he should fasten the 
pipe to an iron round if conveniently near, 
or, if not, he should hitch it in two wooden 
rounds in such manner as to prevent the 
kinking of the pipe. If it be a 35-foot lad- 
der, the second man should take the posi¬ 
tion just below the point at which the pres- 

S S re i.i bei } ds the ladder > where the line 
should also be fastened, preferably to an 
iron round or two wooden rounds. With 
al other ladders, the second man should 
take the position with his feet resting upon 
the first round above the point where the 

P i? 6S m S u PP r° rt th f. ladder; here the line 
should be fastened in the manner as stated 
above H a third man is required, he should 

W* th m?l° n on the ladder near the 
W ^ le $. heir services are needed in 
shifting the line, the second and third 
men are not needed to maintain the pre¬ 
scribed position. After shifting the line, 






the second and third men should resume 
and fasten it as before. Before shifting a 
line from a ladder over 25 feet in length it 
must be cleared of water. Officer and re¬ 
liefs are allowed to use the ladders at any 
time, but must not pass the second man, 
except at the point above designated for 
fastening the line. 

Ques. 4:—Describe the special training 
which horses must receive so that they may 
be able, on all occasions, to do their full 
work in going to a fire. 

ANS.:—The horses should be taught and 
practiced to quickly take their places at the 
pole and shafts on the sound of the gong. 
Drivers and others must do their full duty 
to the horses under any and all circum¬ 
stances. The horses, when in good health, 
should be exercised two hours each day, 
except Sunday. In inclement weather, they 
should be exercised in the immediate vicin¬ 
ity of the company quarters. In cold 
weather, they must be exercised with 
blankets on. When they go out to an 
alarm in the morning or afternoon this ex¬ 
ercising may be dispensed with. Officers 
and drivers should, as soon as possible, by 
observation, learn the disposition, habits 
and peculiarities of the horses, treat them 
kindly, humor them when necessary, teach 
them by kindness to come promptly to the 
pole when the gong sounds, and submit 
to be harnessed and hitched with the least 
possible delay. Care should be taken that 
the horses are judiciously fed and that they 
are well groomed. 

Ques. 5:—Mention five important duties 
of an assistant house watchman. When 
may he be dispensed with? 

ANS.(1) Obey the orders of the house 

watchman. 

(2) Must see that everything on the ap¬ 
paratus floor and stable is in good order 
and in its place and give the horses proper 
attention; see that the engine, tender and 
hook and ladder truck are in proper con¬ 
dition for immediate use. 

(3) Keep the company journal and be re¬ 
sponsible for all entries made in it. 

(4) Exclude all persons who enter quar¬ 
ters for the purpose of soliciting orders, 
etc., or other business not relating to the 
Fire Department. 

(5) Upon receiving an alarm, immedi¬ 
ately sound the dormitory gong, assist in 
hitching the horses and proceed with the 
apparatus to the fire. Assistant house 
watchman ma} r be dispensed with on all 
tours, excepting the midnight tour, between 
12 o’clock and 6 A. M. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Ques. 1:—Name the principal appliances 
required to be provided in hotels for the 
protection of guests. 

ANS.:—Telegraph communication, in¬ 
terior alarm system, watchmen, time detec¬ 
tors or clocks, fire extinguishers, hooks, 
axes, buckets, diagrams in rooms, signs in 


halls, fire escapes and standpipes, if size of 
same warrant their use. 

Ques. 2:—(a) In what buildings must 
shutters and doors be fireproof? (b) Brief¬ 
ly, what is the character of the fireproof 
construction of shutters and doors required 
by law? 

ANS.:—(a) Every building which is 
more than two stories above the curb level, 
excepting dwelling houses, hotels, school 
houses and churches, must have fireproof 
shutters and doors on every exterior win¬ 
dow or opening above the first story there¬ 
of, excepting that on the front openings 
of buildings fronting on streets that are 
more than 30 feet wide or where no other 
buildings are within 30 feet of such open¬ 
ings. 

(b) They must be made of iron or pine, 
or other soft wood of two thicknesses, 
boards matched at right angles to each 
other and securely covered with tin on both 
sides and edges, with folded lapped joints; 
nails for fastening same to be driven in¬ 
side of the flap. The hinges, bolts or 
latches shall be fastened to the shutter or 
doors after it is covered with tin. Such 
doors or shutters to be hung on iron 
frames, independent of the woodwork of 
the windows or doors, or to two iron 
hinges securely fastened in the masonry. 
Or such frames may be of wood, covered 
with tin in the same manner as the shutters 
or doors. 

Oues. 3:—State fully in what manner 
and under what circumstances a Fireman 
not in uniform may make an arrest. 

ANS.:—In providing for protection 
against fire, a Fireman may arrest any per¬ 
son who may commit or attempt to commit 
any crime against the laws of the State or 
violate any rule or regulation of the Fire or 
Police Departments. This in accordance 
with Section 741 of the Charter. 

Ques. 4:—(a) What provision does the 
Penal Code make for the punishment of a 
person who by careless use of an explosive 
substance occasions injury to the person or 
property of another? (b) Under what cir¬ 
cumstances, if any, may a person manufac¬ 
ture fireworks in a dwelling house tenanted 
by one or more families? 

ANS.:—(a) Any person who by the care¬ 
less, negligent or unauthorized use or man¬ 
agement of gunpowder or other explosive 
substances injures or occasions the injury 
of the person or property of another is 
punishable by imprisonment for a term of 
not more than two years. 

(b) Section 389 of the Penal Code makes 
it a misdemeanor to manufacture fireworks 
in any dwelling house. 

Ques. 5:—An Assistant Foreman receives 
a subpoena ordering him to appear at 10 
o’clock on a certain day at the Court of 
General Sessions. At that time he is at a 
fire. What is his duty? 

ANS.:—It was the Assistant Foreman’s 
duty, when he received the subpoena, to im- 


mediately notify his Foreman, who in turn 
would notify the Chief of his Battalion, 
who would see that proper detail was 
made in order that he might comply with 
said subpoena. The Court of General Ses¬ 
sions being a court of criminal jurisdiction, 
he must answer. 

By notifying the Chief of Battalion, he 
would make the detail to allow the Lieu¬ 
tenant to answer the subpoena. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

Ques. 1:—Being assigned as an Acting 
Foreman to a company in a thickly settled 
district you find that obstructions to fire 
escapes are very common and are told that 
it is practically impossible to prevent such 
a breach of the law. State what you would 
do in such an event and how you would go 
about remedying the trouble. 

ANS.:—I would inspect those places and 
give the occupants of the premises or 
apartments in which I found the fire es¬ 
capes obstructed verbal notice to remove 
the same. If they failed, neglected or re¬ 
fused to cause such obstructions to be re¬ 
moved therefrom forthwith, I would im¬ 
mediately apply to the nearest police 
magistrate for a warrant for the arrest of 
the parties offending. Having brought 
them before such magistrate, upon convic¬ 
tion the magistrate could impose a fine of 
not more than $10 or imprison them for 
not more than ten days, or both, at the 
discretion of the court. I would continue 
to have such warrants issued and brought 
before such magistrate until such offenders 
would comply with the law. 

The Rules of the Fire Dep’t require the 
Company Commander to forward a report 
of the conditions to the Chief of the Dep’t, 
who, through the Fire Commissioner, 
transmits it to the Tenement Dep’t, which 
takes action on the same. 

Ques. 2:—What facts and precautions 
must be remembered by users of naphtha 
in order to guard against the danger of ex¬ 
plosion? 

ANS.:—That the liquid naphtha will 
flash; that a vapor will issue from naphtha 
even in cold places and travel far from its 
source. If it should come in contact with 
fire, a spark or flame, it will immediately 
flash back and ignite the liquid. Vapor of 
naphtha and air in an inclosed space when 
exposed to fire will cause an explosion. 
These things to be remembered. These 
precautions to be taken; that path that is 
never left exposed; that places where it is 
kept are properly guarded and ventilated, 
and that no fire or light or any kind is 
brought near such places. 

Ques. 3:—Specify the conditions that 
would justify the officer in charge of a 
great fire to order the destruction of a 
building or buildings by the use of ex¬ 
plosives. 

ANS.:—That there would be no possible 
means of procuring water to extinguish the 


fire and no means of arresting the spread 
of same. These to my mind would be the 
only conditions that would justify him to 
use explosives for the above purpose. 

Ques. 4:—If you were in command of a 
fire and the operations of your men were 
seriously retarted by persons not author¬ 
ized to be there, what would you do to put 
an end to such affairs, and what classes of 
persons would you be particularly desirous 
to exclude? 

ANS.:—I would call on the Police Force 
and have them co-operate with the mem¬ 
bers of the Fire Department and have them 
removed and kept away from the vicinity 
of such fire, and if they refused cause them 
to be arrested. I would be particularly, de¬ 
sirous to see that all idle and suspicious 
persons were kept away therefrom. 

Ques. 5:—Another engine is driven over 
part of your apparatus. What action would 
you take as Company Commander? 

ANS.:—If the apparatus was so damaged 
as to render it unfit for service, I would, if 
proceeding to a fire, go to the nearest 
alarm box and send in the breakdown sig¬ 
nal. Apply to the Chief of Battalion of 
my district and find out where I could get 
another apparatus to place it in service, and 
in compliance with a special order issued I < 
would immediately notify the Chief of De¬ 
partment by telephone of the accident. 

I would then make an investigation and 
find out who was responsible and make a 
special written report of the same, giving 
full particulars, and, if necessary, prefer 
proper charges, obtaining reliable evidence 
and proper witnesses. 


REPORT. 

At the fire one of the Firemen was intoxi¬ 
cated, and while in that condition was 
guilty of neglect of duty and insubordina¬ 
tion. 

Write a report of the circumstance and 
prepare charges to a superior officer. 

ANSWER:— 

New York, Sept. 25, 1907. 
Chief of Department. 

Sir:—I respectfully report as follows: 

At Signal Station 102, at 3.21 P. M. this 
date, Fireman John Doe, of Engine Co. No. 
X, was in such an intoxicated condition 
as to be unfit for duty. I ordered him to 
notify the Engineer to increase the pres¬ 
sure on this company’s line, and he re¬ 
fused and questioned my authority, and 
was very insubordinate. I ordered him to 
^ et i Ur ^i° quarters until the arrival of Med¬ 
ical Officer Roberts, whom I notified by 
telephone, and who pronounced him to be 
suffering from the effects of some intoxi¬ 
cating beverage, and granted him a sick 
leave until 8 A. M. to-morrow morning. I 

62 




have forwarded three charges through the 
proper channels. 

Very respectfully, 


Charge No. 1. 

Being under the influence of liquor, drug 
or compound. 

Specification 1: 

That Fireman First Grade John Doe, of 
Eng. Co. No. X, was under the influence 
of an intoxicating beverage, drug or com¬ 
pound to such an extent as to render him 
unable to perform his duty in a proper 
manner. 

This at about 3.21 P. M. on the 25th day 
of September, 1907, at Station 102, in vio¬ 
lation of Sec. 00, R. & R. 

Charge No. 2. 

Neglect of duty. 

Specification 1: 

That Fireman First Grade John Doe, of 
Eng. Co. No. X, at Signal Station 102, did 
neglect to obey my command to notify the 
Engineer to increase the pressure on the 
company’s line, and refused to comply with 
the order. 

This at about 3.21 P. M. on the 25th day 
of September, 1907, in violation of Section 
XXX, R. & R. 

Charge No. 3. 

Violation of Section XIX, R. & R. 

Specification 1: 

That Fireman First Grade John Doe, of 
Eng. Co. No. X, did violate the provisions 
of Section —, Rules and Regulations, in 
that when ordered to take the line up the 
stairs he replied that I had better take it 
up myself, and that he would find out if 
I had any authority to give him any orders. 

This at about 3.21 P. M. on the 25th day 
of September, 1907, at Signal Station 102, 
in violation of the above section. 

Very respectfully, 

.•••••••. y 

Captain, Engine Co. No. 1. 

Witnesses: 

Fireman First Grade Chas. Brown. 

Fireman First Grade Robt. Cook. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.) 

Fire Department. 

Date: September 24, 1907. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Ques. 1:—After a fire, describe fully what 
care is to be taken of the hose which has 
been used, and which is wet and soiled with 
mud. 

ANS.:—Hose, after being used at a fire 
and when returned to quarters, if only wet 
or damp, should immediately be hung up 
in the tower. If the hose is in a dirty con¬ 
dition from mud, etc., it should be washed 


clean, using a broom to scrub it, if neces¬ 
sary, before hanging up. 

Ques. 2:—What are the duties of an Act¬ 
ing Foreman who believes that horse feed 
delivered at the quarters is below stand¬ 
ard in any way? Give example and full 
details. 

ANS.:—It is his duty to refuse to re¬ 
ceipt or receive any feed which does not 
fully and entirely comply with the follow¬ 
ing standard and should notify the Bureau 
of Repairs and Supplies immediately of 
any neglect to furnish the proper standard, 
and enter weight of each bale in the com¬ 
pany journal: Hay, No. 1; straw, long 
rye; oats, No. 2, white clipped; bran, wheat, 
fresh, clean and sweet. If bran was de¬ 
livered and appeared to be dirty and old, 
it is the duty of the Commanding Officer 
to reject such feed, reporting same to the 
Chief of Battalion in charge of the hospital 
and training stables. 

Ques. 3:—In what manner are beds, bed 
clothing and dormitories in fire company 
quarters kept clean and in order, and what 
provision is made to meet the expenses at¬ 
tached to this work? 

ANS.:—The beds 'should be kept clean 
and in order by employing a person to 
make up beds, wash bed clothes, keep dor¬ 
mitories clean and in order, for which each 
member and officer is required to pay his 
pro rata share of the expense; and in the 
case of transfer or detail, the proper pro¬ 
portionate share of expense to the several 
companies in which he may have served, 
not exceeding $2 a month, to each officer 
and member. In case of detail to other 
duties outside of a company, no share of 
the expense is charged to the officer or 
member so detailed. 

Ques. 4:—On arriving at a fire, you 
notice in a room the odor of kerosene. 
What action would you take concerning 
persons you find on the premises, if you 
do not know that they have business there? 

ANS.:—I would obtain the names and 
addresses of the persons in the room. I 
would note what they were doing, etc., and 
would at once notify the Chief of Battalion 
to notify the Fire Marshal. I would try to 
detain the persons so that the Chief of 
Battalion may see them. 

Ques. 5:—In going to a fire, what pre¬ 
caution should an Assistant Foreman take 
to prevent accidents at (a) street crossings; 
(b) when turning corners; (c) when there 
is an obstacle in the way? 

ANS.:—(a) He should see that the bells 
and gongs ring when approaching a street 
crossing. (b) When turning corners or 
turning from one railroad track to another, 
especially in streets where there are col¬ 
umns of the elevated railroads, he should 
see that the driver lessens his speed, even 
to a walk if necessary, (c) When the ap¬ 
paratus is impeded by crowded thorough¬ 
fares, or at dangerous crossings, the Assist¬ 
ant Foreman should see that one or more 





men precede the apparatus. When near 
the fire, the Commanding Officer should 
take the lead. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Ques. 1:—-(a) State some of the prin¬ 
cipal provisions of law in reference to the 
construction of chimneys so as to prevent 
fires; (b) who is responsible for fires which 
occur in chimneys or flues? 

ANS.:—(a) All chimney joints must be 
smooth on the inside, or lined with pipe. 
No parging mortar must be used on the 
inside of same. The smoke flues of all 
boilers, furnaces, bakers’ ovens, large cook¬ 
ing ranges, large laundry stoves and flues 
used for a similar purpose must be built 
of brick at least 8 inches thick, and capped 
with stone, castiron, or terra cotta. In¬ 
side of 4 inches of all boiler flues must be 
of fire brick, laid in fire mortar for a dis¬ 
tance of 25 feet. 

All smoke flues of smelting furnaces, 
steam boilers or other apparatus which 
heat the flues to a high temperature, to 
have double walls with an air space be¬ 
tween, the inside 4 inches to be fire brick. 

All smoke flues to extend 2 feet above a 
peak roof and 3 feet above a flat roof. 

Chimneys of foundries to extend 10 feet 
above the roof of any building within a 
radius of 50 feet of such chimney, and to 
be covered with wire netting. No wood¬ 
work to be placed within 2 feet of such 
chimney. No wood casing, furring or lath 
shall be placed against or cover any flues. 

No smokepipe shall pass through any 
wood floor. 

No stovepipe shall be placed nearer than 
9 inches of any lath plaster partition, ceil¬ 
ing or woodwork. Where such pass 
through lath, plaster or roofs they shall be 
protected by ventilating timbles. 

(b) The occupant of the premises is re¬ 
sponsible for any fires that occur in chim¬ 
neys or flues. 

Ques. 2:—(a) In a fireproof building over 
150 feet in height of what materials may 
the floor surfaces be constructed; (b) win¬ 
dow frames; (c) all halls and permanent 
partitions? 

ANS.:—The floor surface of such build¬ 
ings shall be stone, cement rock, asphalt, 
tiling or other hard incombustible material. 
The sleepers and surfaces may be of wood, 
treated by some process approved by the 
Building Department to render same fire¬ 
proof. 

(b) All outside window frames shall be 
of metal or of wood covered with metal. 
Inside window frames may be of wood cov¬ 
ered with metal or of wood treated by 
some process to render the same fireproof. 

(c) All halls and permanent partitions in 
fireproof buildings shall be built of fire¬ 
proof materials and shall not be started on 
wood sills or on wooden floors, but be 
built upon fireproof construction of the 
floor and extend to the fireproof beams 
above. 


Ques. 3:—Give an exact statement of the 
circumstances under which an unlicensed 
dealer of explosives may be guilty of a 

felony. , ,, , 

ANS.:—If any person should be burnt 
by an explosive of any compound, the sale 
of which is prohibited by law or ordinance, 
or which has not been subjected to sanitary 
survey, or licensed as therein provided, and 
death ensues therefrom, the person found 
guilty of selling same shall be deemed 
guilty of a felony. 

Ques. 4:—What persons are authorized 
to open fire hydrants, and what is the pen¬ 
alty for violation of this ordinance? 

ANS.:—The Mayor, Alderman for the 
District, the Officers and Engineers of the 
Fire Department, and the employees of the 
Department of Water Supply, Gas and 
Electricity, and the employees of the 
Street Cleaning Department when author¬ 
ized by the Commissioner of Water Supply, 
Gas and Electricity. The penalty is a fine 
of $50 for each and every offense. 

Ques. 5:—An officer of the Fire Depart¬ 
ment attempts to enter a private dwelling 
in order that he may make an investigation 
as to the quantity of kerosene oil kept in 
the cellar of the house. The servants re¬ 
fuse to admit him. What right, if any, has 
he on the premises? If you think he has 
any, state how they are to be enforced. 

ANS.:—According to Section 771 of ; 
the Charter, the Fire Commissioner and 
his officers and agents under the direction 
of the Fire Commissioner are empowered, 
at any and all times to enter all buildings, 
dwellings, etc., where combustible mate¬ 
rials may be lodged, for the purpose of 
ascertain if any violation of law or ordi¬ 
nance exist therein. But if thtt servant re¬ 
fuse to admit him, the law does not say 
that he can forcibly enter such place. It 
would be his duty to immediately report 
the circumstances to Headquarters, and, as 
there is an Assistant Corporation Counsel 
assigned to the Fire Department, he would 
see that legal means were taken to compel 
the party to . allow the inspection to be 
made if the Fire Commissioner so directed. 

(NOTE:—If this answer were made to¬ 
day, it would be different in view of the 
additional powers conferred by the Fire 
Prevention Law upon the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner and his agents.) 

ADMINISTRATION. 

Ques. 1:—While acting as an Assistant 
Foreman of a fire company, when off duty 
you attend a. theater one evening. An 
alarm of fire is raised and a panic com¬ 
mences. In one of the boxes you observe 
one of your superior officers. Give a de¬ 
tailed account of your action under the 
circumstances described. 

ANS.:—I would immediately arise in a 
bold, firm manner and call the attention of 
^ u Thence t° my superior, telling them 
who he was, and assure them there was no 

64 






immediate danger, if such was the case; 
that is, if the alarm was groundless. If 
there was a fire, I would arise in a like 
manner, calling the attention, as before, of 
the audience to my superior officer, and 
try to get them out as quickly and as 
quietly as possible, obeying implicitly 
whatever orders my superior would give. 
If my superior did not know I was a mem¬ 
ber of the Department, I would immediate¬ 
ly make myself known to him. 

Ques. 2:—A large fire breaks out near 
125th Street and Eighth Avenue. What 
companies would respond on the first three 
alarms and what peculiar difficulties would 
be met with at such a fire? 

ANS.:—See assignment book for an¬ 
swer to first part; do not forget locating 
companies. The peculiar difficulties that 
would be met with would be that if the 
fire was in Eighth Avenue the elevated 
road would be an impediment to the raising 
and placing of ladders; also to water tower. 

Ques. 3:—A passenger boat is on fire in 
the river 500 feet from the city wharves. 
What is the duty of a commanding officer 
of a fireboat who finds he cannot cope with 
the fire in midstream? 

ANS.:—In your question you do not say 
whether the boat has passengers on or 
not. Assuming that there are passengers 
on the boat, his first duty is to see that 
they are taken off. If there should be boats 
in the vicinity he should call on them for 
assistance to get the passengers off, but if 
there were no boats he should run her 
to the nearest landing and get the passen¬ 
gers off in that manner, choosing the shore 
that the wind was blowing from. If the 
fire was in the forward part, he should 
back her to the shore; if in the stern, he 
should run her head-on. 

Having in mind the awful disaster of the 
boat General Slocum when the captain 
tried to reach a beaching ground, I would 
try the risk of running her to the nearest 
shore. 

If there were no passengers on the boat, 
I would send a man in one of the left 
boats ashore and have him call other fire- 
boats to my assistance, and try and get the 
boat to the nearest beaching ground and 
beach her; that is, if I thought there was 
no possibility of saving her otherwise. If 
I thought I could save her or hold the 
fire until I could get assistance from other 
boats, I would keep working at her and 
keep her in the direction from which I 
expected assistance. 

Ques. 4:—Describe briefly the object and 
construction of the high-pressure salt water 
system at present being installed in New 
York City. 

ANS.:—The object of the system is to 
get a sufficient volume of water to extin¬ 
guish any fire that may occur and by the 
aid of pumping stations to be able to get 
sufficient pressure at the hydrants without 
the aid of steam fire engines to cope with 
same. 


The system consists of lines of water 
mains laid under the streets in the district 
bounded by Twenty-third Street on the 
north, Chambers Street on the south, Bow¬ 
ery, Third Avenue and Broadway on the 
cast, and North River on the west. There 
are two pumping stations, one located at 
Gansevoort and West Streets, and one at 
Oliver and South Streets. Each station, 
operated by electricity, has five centrifugal 
pumps with a capacity of 3,000 gallons 
each, against a pressure of 300 pounds, or 
a total capacity of 30,000 gallons per min¬ 
ute. 

Though the term “salt water system” is 
used, no salt water has ever been used. 
The pumps are supplied by fresh water, 
which is the only water used so far. But 
in case it should be necessary to use salt 
water the pumping stations are so arranged 
that they can draw from the river at any 
time. The pumps are operated by elec¬ 
tricity. The mains vary in size from 12 
to 24 inches, with four-way hydrants dis¬ 
tributed throughout the above district, with 
three openings of 3-inch and one of 414- 
inch. 

On receipt of alarms of fire within the 
above district the pumps are started at a 
pressure of 125 pounds (each station being 
equipped with a fire alarm telegraph sys¬ 
tem), and will continue same until notified 
by the officer in charge of the fire to in¬ 
crease or discontinue same. This is done 
by means of telephone, boxes being dis¬ 
tributed through the district. 

Ques. 5:—To guard against the spread 
of fire, under what conditions may baled 
hay or straw be stored in the city? 

ANS.:—Not more than twenty tons of 
baled hay or straw shall be stored in the 
city in any building except in a fireproof¬ 
building throughout; or upon an open 
space of ground surrounded by a wall con¬ 
structed entirely of fireproof materials at 
least 12 feet high and 12 inches thick; or 
in a fireproof building remote or distant 
at least 50 feet from any adjacent build¬ 
ing, or in a building approved by the New 
York Board of Fire Underwriters, or by 
the Fire Commissioner, for which a cer¬ 
tificate of approval has been issued and not 
revoked. 


REPORT. 

Write a report to the proper officer in 
regard to inferior fuel which has been re¬ 
ceived at the company’s headquarters, stat¬ 
ing in what manner the fuel is inferior and 
your recommendations in regard thereto. 

ANSWER:— 

New York, Sept. 24, 1907. 

Chief of Department. 

Sir:— 

In compliance with Sec. 75, R. & R.. 
1912, I respectfully report on egg coal, re¬ 
ceived at these quarters from J. J. M., 777 


65 


West Twenty-third Street. We find that 
it does not give enough heat, and is of 
inferior quality; and as the furnace is a 
new one, I respectfully request that the 
contractor be required to remove the coal 
and replace same with coal of better qual¬ 
ity at once. 

Also the gasolene that was received at 
these quarters on the 22nd inst., for use 
in Motor Engine No. 7-11, for instructing 
members on how to operate same, is of 
inferior quality and is useless on account 
of getting wet with water when a pipe 
in the storeroom burst, at 10 P. M. on 
the 23rd inst. I have notified the Bureau 
of Repairs and Supplies, and they reply 
that they will notify the Dexter Oil Co. 

Very respectfully, 

. ..... 

Captain Eng. Co. 55. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.). 

Fire Department. 

Date: September 23, 1907. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Ques. 1:—If detailed to a place of amuse¬ 
ment, mention the three most important 
things you would look out for first and ex¬ 
amine into with the object of preventing 
accident in the case of fire. 

ANS.:—1. Test fire alarm box on stage, 
and in case of fire or panic send alarm 
from special and street boxes immediately. 

2. Examine gaspipe and gas fixtures for 
leaks; and would have the gas man stop 
all leaks in pipe immediately, and be in 
readiness to turn off gas in wings, border 
or stage lights, which may be extinguished 
by explosion, etc. 

3. To see that pails of water are pro¬ 
vided near at hand for use, if necessary, to 
throw on the residue of colored fire, etc.; 
also to cover shovel blade or such other 
articles as they may be fired from, and 
would see that doors in proscenium wall 
are kept closed during performances. 

Ques. 2:—Give in detail an account of 
the proceedings that take place on the ap¬ 
paratus floor of every fire company at 8 
o’clock in the morning. 

ANS.:—Promptly at five minutes to 8 
every morning each officer and member of 
the company report on the apparatus floor 
in the uniform as prescribed to be worn 
at the ‘'8 o’clock roll call,” all neat and clean 
in person, uniform and equipments, and 
with all the public property entrusted to 
their care, the only exceptions in regard 
to the uniform regulation being those who 
are on probation. Promptly at the last 
stroke of the gong announcing 8 o’clock, 
and after the horses have been returned to 
their stalls, the company forms, salutes and 
recovers. The roll is then called and all 


the general or special orders or other cir¬ 
culars received since the last roll call are 
carefully and distinctly read. Then the 
details for house watch duty are announced 
and instructions are given for the day. 
Then the commanding officer makes a care¬ 
ful inspection of every member of the com¬ 
pany in regard to personal appearance, uni¬ 
form, equipment, etc. 

Ques. 3:—'What tests are to be made of 
an engine which has not been in use for 
some time to show that all parts are in 
good working order? 

ANS.:—Connect engine to hydrant in 
front of quarters; increase the water level 
on gauge in boiler; generate a steam pres¬ 
sure of 25 pounds by wood fire; work the 
engine a short time until satisfied that all 
parts are in good working order, then blow 
off the surplus water to the standard level, 
using the blow-off cocks and the lower 
heater cock at the same time. If prac¬ 
ticable, by cleaning the waterleg of boiler 
by removing the mud plugs and handhold 
plates, using the Croton pressure with 
small hose. 

Ques. 4:—A private citizen is forcibly 
ejected from an engine house by order of 
the Assistant Foreman. In bringing 
charges against the officer for putting him 
out he states that he was peaceably en¬ 
deavoring to collect a bill, incurred before 
the officer became a Fireman. The officer 
states that at the time of the man’s visit 
the apparatus was being cleaned. How 
will each statement affect the dismissal or 
the sustaining of the charge? Will the of¬ 
ficer be ordered to pay the bill? Give rea¬ 
sons for your answer. 

ANS.:—The statement of the collector 
would favorably affect the dismissal of the 
charges against the officer, as it is against 
the rules of the Department to allow per¬ 
sons to enter for the purpose of soliciting 
of any kind, peddling goods or wares, col¬ 
lecting bills, or to transact any such busi¬ 
ness in or about or in the vicinity of quar¬ 
ters, and the men and officers are respon¬ 
sible for the enforcement of this rule. The 
statement of the Assistant Foreman in re¬ 
gard to the cleaning of the apparatus when 
the collector called would also tend to ex¬ 
onerate, as it is strictly against the rules 
to permit visitors in quarters while appa¬ 
ratus and quarters are being cleaned. The 
officer may be required by the Commis¬ 
sioner to pay his bill, as the rules of the 
Department distinctly state that members 
of the Department shall not sell or assign 
their salaries or incur or contract any 
debts or liabilities which they are unable 
or unwilling to pay, or neglect or refuse to 
honorably discharge and promptly pay all 
indebtedness, claims and judgments, and 
satisfy all executions that may be held or 
issued against them. 

Ques. 5:—Give the rules for the care of 
hook and ladder trucks. 

ANS.:—All the rules of engine com¬ 
panies that are applicable to hook and lad- 




der trucks are also required to be carried 
out in addition to the following: 

1. Remove the sponge from kingbolt 
oil box, in center of axle, and saturate with 
oil at least twice each month. 

2. Keep oil holes of pinion shaft of steer¬ 
ing gear, also the fifth wheel and end bolts 
of springs, clear of grit, and lubricate after 
each run. 

3. Once each week while cleaning quar¬ 
ters, remove all wheels of the apparatus 
and grease the axles, first wiping off the 
old grease from axle arms and wheel boxes. 
New axles should be examined, and, if 
necessary, grease after each run for the 
first three months of use. 

4. Keep all the tools in perfect order, and 
examine the ladders, guy ropes, etc., after 
use to see that they are not defective. 

5. Those in charge of water towers are 
required to see that the inner tube, where 
it passes through the outer shell, as well as 
the pulleys and points of friction, are kept 
well lubricated at all times. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Ques. 1:—How is the sale and storage 
of explosives regulated in the City of New 
York? 

ANS.:—By an ordinance passed by the 
Board of Aldermen, May 19, 1902, and ap¬ 
proved by the Mayor May 19, 1902. Such 
ordinance created a Municipal Explosive 
Commission to consist of five members, the 
Fire Commissioner and four others. Chair¬ 
man of said Commission, one of the four 
to be selected from a list of ten names to 
be submitted by the New York section of 
the American Chemical Society, to meet at 
the call of the Fire Commissioner. The 
duty of said Commission is to formulate 
and adopt such regulations as in their 
opinion may be necessary to regulate the 
storage of explosives in the city. 

By such ordinance it is forbidden for any 
person, firm or corporation to have, keep, 
sell, use, give away or transport any blast¬ 
ing powder, gunpowder, nitroglycerine, gun 
cotton or any substance or compound or 
mixture or article having properties of such 
a character that alone or in combination or 
contiguity with other substances or com¬ 
pounds it may generate sufficient heat or 
gas or pressure, or all of them, so as to 
render a destructive blow to surrounding 
persons or things within the corporate lim¬ 
its of the City of New York, except in the 
manner and upon the conditions prescribed 
by these regulations. 

Ques. 2:—What size standpipe is re¬ 
quired in a building in course of erection 
to be 85 feet in height; (b) for a building 
in course of erection to be . 150 feet in 
height; (c) for a building in course of erec¬ 
tion to be 250 feet in height? 

ANS.:—(a) No standpipe is required for 
a building 85 feet in height, as a building 
must be over 85 feet in height to require a 
standpipe. 

(b) A building to be 150 feet requires 
4-inch standpipe. 


(c) All buildings over 150 feet must have 
a 6-inch standpipe. 

Ques. 3:—Name four kinds of frame 
structures that may be legally erected with¬ 
in the fire limits. 

ANS.: — Temporary frame structures 
(one-story) for use of builders within the 
limits of lots on which buildings are 
erected or on adjoining lots upon permit 
issued by the Commissioner of Buildings. 
Sheds of wood, not over 15 feet high, open 
on at least one side; but roofs and sides 
must be covered with fireproof material, 
and fence must not be made as back for 
such shed. If within the limits there is 
a block with over 90 per cent, of frame 
buildings on it a frame building may be 
placed upon such lot (dwelling) not to 
exceed two stories and basement exterior 
privies or wood or coal houses not exceed¬ 
ing 150 feet in superficial area and not more 
than 8 feet in height, but roofs must be 
covered with metal, gravel or slate. 

Ques. 4:—When a hotel keeper fails or 
neglects to provide life-saving appliances 
for his guests, does he violate the law, and 
if so what penalty is prescribed for the 
offense of which he is guilty? 

ANS.:—Yes, he violates Section 762 of 
the Charter of the City of Greater N. Y., 
which says the owners and proprietors 
shall provide such means of communicat¬ 
ing alarms of fire, accidents or other 
sources of danger, to the Police and Fire 
Departments, as these Departments may 
direct, and shall also provide such fire hose, 
extinguishers, buckets, hooks, axes, fire 
doors and such other means of preventing 
and extinguishing fire as the Fire Com¬ 
missioner may direct. Though no fine is 
mentioned in this section, according to Sec¬ 
tion 773 he is liable to a fine of $50, and 
he is also guilty of a misdemeanor. 

Ques. 5:—What provisions are made for 
the benefit of members of the Fire Depart¬ 
ment concerning the apportioning of taxes 
levied on insurance companies? 

ANS.:—The insurance companies pay 2 
per cent, of their gross premiums, which 
is distributed as follows: 45 per cent, to 
the several volunteer associations entitled 
to the same in the several boroughs; 10 
per cent, of same to the Firemen’s Home 
at Hudson, N. Y.; the remainder to be 
paid to the Relief Fund of the Fire De¬ 
partment of the City of New York. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

Ques. 1:—You are in command of a fire 
that has made great headway. You sud¬ 
denly find yourself without water. What 
means should you take to prevent the fire 
from getting across the street or to ad¬ 
joining buildings? 

ANS.:—From this question I assume that 
there is no possibility of getting water 
anywhere. According to Section 751 of the 
Charter of the City of New York, the Fire 
Commissioner is directed and empowered 


67 


to maintain in the Fire Department a corps 
of Sappers and Miners, whose duty it is to 
level and destroy buildings by the use of 
explosives. If such bureau had been estab¬ 
lished I would immediately call upon them, 
using the signals provided for the purpose, 
but as the corps has never been organized 
I would immediately notify the Fire Com¬ 
missioner and ask him to > provide the 
means to blow down the building on fire, 
or those adjacent thereto, if necessary to 
prevent the spread of the fire. While 
awaiting the means to blow down the 
buildings I would try every available 
means to procure water, as sometimes it 
may happen that a water main in the vicin¬ 
ity of the fire would be burst, but by going 
in another direction I might be able to ob¬ 
tain water from other mains. Or there 
might be a possibility of getting water 
from the river by relaying engines for that 
purpose. Or it may be in a neighborhood 
where large buildings are equipped with 
their own wells or tanks, and I would be 
able to obtain water in that manner. 

Ques. 2:—Name the companies that 
would respond to a third alarm fire at 
Bloomingdale’s, Manhattan, or at the Sugar 
Refineries, Kent Avenue and South Third 
Street, Williamsburg. 

ANS.:—See Assignment Books, which 
constantly change. 

Ques. 3:—If you were in command of 
a fire company on the Fourth of July, what 
instruction would you give or deem it nec¬ 
essary to give your men to guide them in 
going to and returning from their meals 
that day? 

ANS.:—I would instruct them to look 
out for fires and see that they were ex¬ 
tinguished, especially those in proximity to 
dangerous places, and see that no fireworks 
were set off under awnings or near open 
windows. Warn owners of awnings to put 
up same and tell occupants to close win¬ 
dows, explaining to them the danger of 
same. Also, where they would see fire¬ 
works in large amounts, or over $25 worth, 
to see that a permit was issued for same 
and that persons setting off same had a 
certificate of fitness. 

Ques. 4:—What particular dangers are 
to be guarded against, should a fire occur 
in each of the following. Give as briefly as 
possible your reasons in each case: (a) 
A cleaning and dyeing establishment, (b) 
A large typewriter wareroom. (c) A 
sugar warehouse, (d) A mineral water 
manufactory. 

ANS.:—(a) I would guard against the 
following chemicals in dyeing and cleaning 
establishments: Lime, sodium peroxide, 
sulphuric acid, benzine, chlorates. I would 
guard against water reaching the lime, 
which would result in the generation of 
considerable heat, and thereby spread the 
fire. I would guard against the sodium 
peroxide, as when it is mixed with water 
it evolves considerable heat and is liable 
to ignite anything inflammable with which 


it comes in contact. As an example of its 
great danger, if a little be placed on a 
piece of cloth or paper and a few drops 
of water be poured upon it, the cloth or 
paper will burst into flame almost imme¬ 
diately. Sulphuric acid when in contact 
with water will not produce great heat or 
spread the fire, but will, if in contact with 
inflammable material. Benzine, naphtha 
and gasoline are very dangerous, and I 
would take great care in guarding against 
them, as the vapors arising are explosive 
if exposed to fire. Chlorate of potash and 
chlorate of soda are very dangerous and 
explosive. An explosion with great vio¬ 
lence will occur when in friction with or 
when heated by organic substances. 

(b) I should guard against the burning of 
typewriter ribbons, carbon papers and car¬ 
bon oils, which leave off a poisonous vapor. 
I would try to locate where these were 
stored and would station someone there, if 
possible, to guard them. I would also 
guard against celluloid in the room. 

(c) Dust explosions, also lime stored in 
such place. See that no water is put on 
it, if possible. 

(d) Explosions from bottles filled with 
mineral water, as they contain gases which 
will explode when heated. 

Ques. 5:—Suppose that among the men 
under you there were two or three who 
were continually quarreling but never com¬ 
ing to blows. What would you do in such 
a case with a view to the good of the serv¬ 
ice? 

ANS.:—The rules of the Department for¬ 
bid quarreling or altercations under any 
circumstances. I would prefer proper 
charges against those violating such rules 
with reliable witnesses to substantiate same 
and let Fire Commissioner deal with them 
accordingly. 

REPORT. 

As Company Commander, write a report 
to the proper official, with a recommenda¬ 
tion that certain repairs be made to the 
quarters, apparatus, harness, etc., in your 
charge, and give details in every case. 

ANSWER:— 

New York, Sept. 23, 1907. 
Chief of Department. 

Sir:— 

In compliance with Sec. 66, R. & R., 
1912, I respectfully report as follows: 

The apparatus floor is in need of repairs. 
The hose tower requires to be painted. The 
tires on the rear wheels, and the front 
spring of Company Engine should be re¬ 
placed, as they are worn and in bad con¬ 
dition. 

I also require a new set of harness, as I 
have none on hand. 

I have forwarded requisitions for each to 
the Bureau of Repairs and Supplies, and 
as the streets are in a very bad condition, 

68 


I respectfully urge that this be given imme¬ 
diate attention. 

Very respectfully, 

.... • 9 

Captain Eng. Co. No. 31. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.). 

Fire Deparement. 

Date: July 27, 1903. 
TECHNICAL. 

1. What are the special duties of an as¬ 
sistant foreman at a fire when his engine is 
in actual service? 

2. What are the duties of the theater de¬ 
tail on and about the stage? Confine your 
answer to the question. 

3. What is double company, so-called, in 
the Fire Department? How is it divided 
for duty under the rules? 

4. What is the rule as to economy in the 
use of water by the Fire Department? 

5. Write out a charge for reckless driving 
such as might be preferred by a Foreman 
against a member of his company. Do not 
give the above with any name but John 
Doe. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. What are the provisions of the law as 
to obstructing attempts to extinguish fires? 

2. Names some chemicals the storage of 
which is restricted, stating the qualities of 
each allowed, and state how the storage of 
other chemicals is regulated. 

3. What are the provisions regulating the 
blasting of rocks? 

4. What are the powers of the Commis¬ 
sioner as to the destruction of buildings and 
what are the rights of owners? 

5. State fully what you would do if at a 
fire you discovered that crumpled paper was 
distributed pretty freely about the building. 
Give your reasons. 

REPORT. 

An accident occurs at a fire in your dis¬ 
trict and it becomes necessary to send out 
an ambulance call. Assuming such facts as 
you please, make a report of the particulars 
of such a call, in accordance with the rules 
and regulations of the Department. 

CITY GOVERNMENT. 

1. What counties are included within the 
limits of New York City? Describe the 
counties with reference to the boroughs and 
give the titles of four prominent county of¬ 
ficials. 

2. What branches of the city government 
correspond most closely to the State Legis¬ 


lature? How are its members selected and 
for how long a term? What name is given 
to its legislative acts? 

3. What are the special duties of the Dep¬ 
uty Commissioner of the Fire Department? 
How many Deputy Chiefs in the Depart¬ 
ment and how are they distributed? Which 
one has the most authority? 

4. What bureaus of the Fire Department 
investigate the causes of fires and what 
kinds of fires need most careful investiga¬ 
tion? Give reason for your answer. 

5. Mention two other departments of the 
city government which are closely related 
to the Fire Department in the prevention of 
fires. Show how each of them aids in this 
important work. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.). 

Fire Department. 

Date: January 28, 1896. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. How far does the rules and regulations 
governing the conduct of a foreman apply 
to the position you are seeking? 

2. What are the duties of an assistant 
foreman when on theater detail? 

3. What are the rules governing the ad¬ 
mission of visitors to quarters? 

4. State fully the duties of an assistant 
foreman. 

5. What report should be made after a 
fire, by whom, and to whom? 

6. State through what channels official 
communications pass in the Fire Depart¬ 
ment. 

7. What are the usual causes of fires in 
dwellings, and how prevented? 

8. What officer must always be in quar¬ 
ters? 

9. What violations of laws in relation to 
buildings must be reported without delay? 

10. What articles of a combustible nature 
require permits to be sold legally, and who 
issues the permits? 


LAWS. 

1. What are the divisions of the Fire De¬ 
partment, and what duties does each per¬ 
form? 

2. How are the Sappers and Miners’ 
Corps composed, and what are its duties? 

3. What persons may apply for the Fire 
Department? 

4. By whom are violations investigated 
and punished? 

5. What is the law relative to explosives 
and combustibles? 

69 





Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.). 

Fire Department. 

Date: January 30, 1896. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. State the duties of a foreman in quar¬ 
ters. 

2. What report should a foreman make of 
hydrants in his district? 

3. What are the duties of a foreman with 
respect to the public property in his charge? 

4. How should hose be tested? 

5. What report of a fire should a foreman 
make? 

6. What regular leaves may be granted, 
and what special leaves? 

7. What duties are to be performed by 
members detailed at theaters? 

8. Who is responsible for company appa¬ 
ratus, and who must enforce that respon¬ 
sibility? 

9. What are the rules relative to liquors 
and tobacco? 

10. State briefly the duties of house- 
watchman. 


LAWS. 

1. Who has the sole power to provide 
supplies, apparatus, etc., in the Fire De¬ 
partment, and who does this property be¬ 
long to? 

2. What is the procedure of removal of 
members of the uniformed force? 

3. May a member of the uniformed force 
be a candidate for an elective office? 

4. What is the law regarding the obstruc¬ 
tion of hydrants? 

5. How is the firemen’s relief and pension 
fund sustained? 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.). 

Fire Department. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. What rules as to the use of gas in com¬ 
pany quarters must be strictly observed by 
foreman of a company? 

2. Describe fully the “Company Journal,” 
by whom may entries in it be made and 
who is responsible for its correctness? 

3. What danger signals are used in the 
Fire Department and for what special pur¬ 
poses? 

4. What are the duties of the theater de¬ 
tail in front of the stage? Confine your an¬ 
swers to the question. 

5. Prepare a charge of “disobedience of 
orders,” with at least two specifications, 
such as might be preferred by a foreman 
against a member of his company. Use fic¬ 
titious names only. 


LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. State fully what are the provisions of 
law as to aisles and exits of theaters. 

2. Recite the provisions of the ordinances 
as to the sale and transportation of lime. 

3. State what are the punishments that 
may be inflicted on a member by way of 
discipline and what are the various provi¬ 
sions regulating the procedure in regard to 
such matters? 

4. What are the provisions of law regu¬ 
lating the sale of gunpowder? 

5. State fully what you would do if at a 
fire you observed some idle person repeat¬ 
edly attempting at different points to break 
through the fire lines. 

REPORT. 

The fuel used in steaming at a fire in your 
district is of inferior quality. Assuming 
such facts as you please, make a special re¬ 
port of such fuel, in accordance with the 
rules of the Department. 

CITY GOVERNMENT. 

1. Give the titles of at least five prom¬ 
inent officials holding offices under the 
United States Government and having busi¬ 
ness in the City of New York. 

2. Mention two important bureaus or de¬ 
partments of the City Government which 
have been abolished within a few years and 
the powers of the same conferred by the 
State Legislature upon State officials. 

3. In what ways do the provisions of the 
Building Code and Tenement House Law, 
when properly enforced, lessen the labor of 
the Fire Department? 

4. What, in your opinion, would be the 
effect of extending the age limit for en¬ 
trance into the Fire Department from 30 to 
35 years? 

5. By what restrictions and penalties are 
unauthorized persons deterred from wear¬ 
ing the uniform and insignia of the Fire De¬ 
partment? 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.). 

Fire Department. 

CITY GOVERNMENT. 

1. In what respects does the Department 
differ in the organization of its executive 
branch from what it was before the present 
charter came into effect? 

2. In your opinion, should the’rule pro¬ 
hibiting members of the force from becom¬ 
ing members of political organizations be 
extended so as to prevent their forming 
organizations within the Department? Give 
your reasons. 

3 What rights has a dismissed member 
ot the uniformed force which are not al¬ 
lowed to a dismissed clerk of the Depart¬ 
ment? 


70 







4. Give an instance where you think a pri¬ 
vate would be justified in preferring a 
charge against a lieutenant. 

5. Name some matter, not immediately 
connected with the actual extinguishing of 
a fire, where the Fire Department has au¬ 
thority to act and mention any other de¬ 
partment which has authority also with ref¬ 
erence to the same matter. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. State what books must be kept by the 
commanding officer of a company and what 
must appear in each. 

2. What is the duty of a commanding of¬ 
ficer in case an assault is committed by a 
member of his company? 

3. How must leaves of absence be regu¬ 
lated? By whom are they granted? By 
whom are they granted for foremen and as¬ 
sistant foremen? 

4. Name three of the penalties attached 
to loss of property. 

5. What are the formalities to be ob¬ 
served before promotions can be made? 
What length of service in a grade is re¬ 
quired by the rules before promotion can 
be made to a higher grade? 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. State briefly the provisions of the law 
regulating fire escapes on tenement houses. 

2. Recite the ordinance as to crossing fire 
hose in the street. 

3. On what subjects has the Fire Com¬ 
missioner the authority to make regula¬ 
tions binding persons outside the Depart¬ 
ment? 

4. What are the orovisions regulating the 
sale of kerosene at retail? 

5. If, while going from quarters to your 
house, you should discover in some area¬ 
way a quantity of apparently oil-soaked cot¬ 
ton waste tucked away under a stoop, state 
fully what you would do. 

REPORT. 

Assuming that the proprietor of a theater 
in your district fails or neglects, after due 
notice, to remove obstructions in the aisles 
or passageways of his establishment, make 
a report of the facts in the case, giving full 
details. 

Handwriting will be rated on the above. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ASST. FOREMAN (LIEUT.). 

Fire Department. 

DICTATION. 

At the time of the organization of the 
Commission its requirements could not be 
definitely ascertained, as the extent of the 
work could not then be determined. _ It was 
practical, therefore, to grant specific ap¬ 


propriations for its force of employees or 
for suitable accommodations and supplies. 
As the work of the Commission has devel¬ 
oped, however, it is still necessary to secure 
details of employees from the several de¬ 
partments in order to transact the work of 
the Commission with any degree of promp¬ 
titude. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. Give the titles attached to the several 
ranks and grade of the officers and mem¬ 
bers of the uniformed force of the Fire De¬ 
partment; also a brief description of the in¬ 
signia worn to indicate each rank. 

2. What prevents any person not a mem¬ 
ber of the Fire Department from wearing 
the uniform, and doing acts which firemen 
are authorized to do? 

3. How is the storage of cotton, hay and 
other vegetable products regulated in the 
City of New York? 

4. Have the officers and agents of the 
Fire Department any right to enter private 
dwelling buildings and places for business 
in the City of New York, and, if so, when 
and for what purpose? 

5. Suppose you are off duty and are at¬ 
tending a performance at the Broadway 
Theater, where the house is crowded, and 
you observe that persons are allowed to 
stand and sit in the aisles, what would you 
do? 

6. Suppose you are in the command of 
your company, and after putting out a fire, 

# discover some partly burned shavings and 
*a smell of kerosene under a stairway, what 
would you do? 

7. When and under what circumstances 
may a pension be paid to the widow or 
relative of a deceased member of the force? 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. What information appears upon the 
back of a report of company operations at 
a fire? Prepare a form showing how this 
information appears, assuming any facts 
you choose. 

2. State in full the different leaves of ab¬ 
sence a fireman may obtain, together with 
the regular manner of obtaining such 
leaves and the record (if any), that is kept 
of the same. 

3. Give in detail the duties of company 
commanders so far as the horses are con¬ 
cerned. 

Relative to inspection by company com¬ 
manders, state: 

(a) What inspection is required of fire- 
alarm boxes and signs? 

(b) What inspection must be made in 
January and July of each year? 

(c) What inspection must be made as to 
special trades that require licenses? 

(d) Of what sort of buildings are inspec¬ 
tions made, and for what purpose? 

(e) What special preparation does an en¬ 
gineer of steamer have to make and what, 
in full, are an engineer’s duties as to the 
care of the apparatus? 



(f) What special funeral honors, if any, 
are given to a fireman killed in discharge 
of his duty? 

(g) Assuming that you have made an in¬ 
spection in accordance with one of the 
divisions of Question No. 4, write a report 
of such inspection, and signed by your ex¬ 
amination number. 


New Jersey Civil Service Com’n. 

LIEUTENANT. 

Fire Department, Newark. 

Date: 1914. 

REPORT. 

During a ten days’ leave of absence of 
the Captain, you are acting Captain, and on 
the receipt of an alarm late at night, one of 
the men refuses to go, saying that he is 
sick. The day before he was off duty. The 
next morning an empty whiskey bottle is 
found in the hay. The man tells one of the 
other members of the company that he has 
been in the Department longer than you and 
he does not propose to take orders from 
you. Make a complete official report cov¬ 
ering the whole affair. 

Do not use your name. 

DUTIES. 

1. On receiving an alarm of fire at night, 
state what you consider to be the full du¬ 
ties of the Lieutenant, from the moment 
the alarm is received, until the company’s 
arrival at the fire. 

2. Explain, as you would to a number of 
new firemen just assigned to your company, 
the proper method of handling, stretching 
in and picking up a line of hose. Explain 
also what care should be given hose after 
having been used. 

3. What are the full duties of the house 
watch? 

4. If a still alarm is turned in at your 
quarters, and in the absence of the Captain, 
your company responds, and on arrival at 
the place designated, you find the alarm to 
be false, what are your duties? 

5. At a serious fire your Captain directs 
you to take two men and perform a very 
difficult and dangerous, but necessary, duty, 
and the men selected, after being acquainted 
with what they are to do, tell you that it 
cannot be done, and they do not wish to 
make the attempt, what would you do? 

6. If while you were off duty a well- 
known citizens comes to you and makes a 
serious charge against a member of your 
company, what would you do? Explain the 
full procedure when charges are made 
against a fireman. 

7. What other departments of City gov¬ 
ernment are required to co-operate with the 
Fire Department, in the interest of greater 
fire protection? State in what way these 
departments are required to co-operate. 

8. On your day off duty, in company with 


a friend, you are in another district, and 
you notice a contractor blasting rock, while 
making excavation, at a point which seems 
to you to be dangerously close to dwell¬ 
ings in the vicinity. The work has evident¬ 
ly just begun and the contractor’s sign 
bears an address in another city. Would 
you take any action? Give reasons for your 
answer. 

9. In responding to a first-alarm fire, 
while acting as company commander, you 
are the first to arrive and you see at a 
glance that the fire is in the basement of 
a large mercantile establishment. What 
would be your first duties, and how would 
you proceed? 

10. How many members are there in a 
fully equipped truck company, in the New¬ 
ark Fire Department? An engine com¬ 
pany? Give the numbers and titles of the 
men represented in each company. 

11. While acting as Lieutenant you at¬ 
tend a theater one evening, while off duty. 
The theater is crowded and people insist 
on standing in the aisles. Would you take 
any action? If an alarm of fire is raised 
and a panic commences later on in the even¬ 
ing and you notice that one of your superior 
officers is in one of the boxes, explain what 
would be your actions under the circum¬ 
stances. 

12. In case your company was the first to 
arrive at a fire, and at the direction of your 
Captain, you, with two firemen, were going 
through the building, and you noticed the 
smell of kerosene, and found evidences of 
the building having been set on fire, what 
would you do? 

13. In going to a fire what precautions 
should a Lieutenant take to prevent acci¬ 
dents at (a) street crossings, (b) when 
turning corners, (c) when there is an ob¬ 
struction in the street, such as a “block” 
or some other serious hindrance? 

14. A fire breaks out in a paint and var¬ 
nish factory, and on the arrival of your 
company, which is the first to arrive, it is 
found that the fire is in the packing room 
of a 3-story factory building, and that it 
has made considerable headway, having al¬ 
ready spread to lumber, packing cases, etc. 
On the second floor, above the fire, a great 
deal of paint is stored. What would be the 
difficulties in fighting such a fire? Outline 
what you would consider a proper method 
of attack, assuming that other companies 
responded promptly. 


New Jersey Civil Service Com’n. 
LIEUTENANT. 

Fire Department. 

(This was either for Newark or Jersey 
City.). 

Subjects of examination and relative 
weights: Experience and record for effi¬ 
ciency and service, 4; written report, 1; du¬ 
ties, 5. 


72 




EXPERIENCE. 

This will cover a general examination on 
the past experience and education of the 
applicant. 

DUTIES. 

(Paper No. 1.) 

1. Give a brief outline of the organization 
of the Newark Fire Department. 

2. What are the duties of a Lieutenant of 
the Newark Fire Department? 

3. What do you consider to be the most 
essential qualifications for a successful of¬ 
ficer of the Fire Department? 

4. Assume that a fire breaks out at night 
in the cellar of a large warehouse. On your 
arrival you find the windows and doors 
closed and the fire well advanced up the 
only elevator shaft of the building, what 
would be your first move and what your 
general plan of attack? 

5. If you found that you did not have 
sufficient aid to cope with the fire, what 
would you do? 

6. In what way and on what grounds 
may charges be preferred against a member 
of the Newark Fire Department? 

7. What do you consider to be the most 
serious violation of the rules and regula¬ 
tions of the Newark Fire Department? 

8. In your opinion is a fireman ever jus¬ 
tified in disobeying the order of his su¬ 
perior officer? What would you do in a 
case of this kind? 

9. Who is responsible for the care of the 
horses both in quarters and at a fire? What 
provisions are made to keep the horses in 
good condition? 

10. For what purpose is a company jour¬ 
nal kept, and what is it intended to be? 

(Paper No. 2.) 

1. Give the names and official titles of all 
the officers of the Newark Fire Depart¬ 
ment ranking above captain. 

2. Under what circumstances does a 
Lieutenant assume control at quarters or 
at a fire? 

3. Give a brief explanation of the fire- 
alarm system of Newark, and state the vari¬ 
ous steps by which your station is notified 
of a fire in your district. 

4. On what principles and in what way 
would you enforce discipline among your 
subordinates, with a view of getting good 
and efficient service from them? 

5. What are the chief duties of the house 
watchman? 

6. If you detected the smell of liquor on 
a member of your company, what would be 
your method of procedure? 

7. If you were informed that several of 
the hydrants in your company district were 
encumbered with snow, ice, or building ma¬ 
terial, what would you do? 


8. What provisions are made by the Fire 
Department to prevent reckless driving or 
possible accidents in going to or coming 
from a fire? 

9. If you were in command of apparatus 
from your station, and on arriving at a fire 
you found other firemen already there, wh&t 
would be your first move? 

10. Assume that a fire had broken out in 
a frame dwelling in a closely built section 
of the city, apfd had made such progress 
that you saw it was impossible to save the 
building, what would be your line of ac¬ 
tion? State how you would proceed. 

(Paper No. 3.) 

1. Who is the head of the Newark Fire 
Department? In his absence, who would 
act in his stead? 

2. Name six of the most important rules 
of the Newark Fire Department. 

3. If, in the absence of your Captain, an 
alarm of fire should be turned in from out¬ 
side the fire limits of the city, what would 
you do? 

4. If a fire should occur that had clearly 
gotten beyond the control of the Fire De¬ 
partment, what would be the first duty of 
the firemen? 

5. If a fireman or an officer has occasion 
to leave quarters (not being called out by 
a fire), state fully what records are made? 

6. What are the duties of firemen detailed 
for theater service? 

7. State briefly what you consider to be 
the proper attitude of an officer toward his 
subordinates, in order to insure proper re¬ 
spect and ready response to his orders. 

8. In case you noticed a trifling violation 
of the rules by a number of your company, 
what would be your method of procedure? 

9. How would you undertake to rescue 
workmen from the sixth story of a factory 
building, access by elevators, stairways and 
fire escapes being entirely cut off? 

10. What rules must govern all reports 
of commandants of companies treating of 
incidents affecting their respective com¬ 
panies? 

WRITTEN REPORT. 

Write a report of not less than 150 words 
addressed to the Chief of the Newark Fire 
Department, assuming the following facts, 
and supplying any additional facts which 
may occur to you. 

NOTE:—Sign with your examination 
number. Do not use your name. 

“You were on duty at a fire in a large 10- 
story tenement house from which presum¬ 
ably all the tenants had escaped. The house 
stood by itself, separated by at least 25 feet 
from all others. Suddenly a woman ap¬ 
pears at the edge of the roof. Flames are 
bursting from the windows of the upper 
floor and the roof is ready to fall in. By 
the bravery of five men of your company, 
one of whom is seriously injured, a rescue 
is accomplished.” 


73 


Chicago Civil Service Com’n. 
LIEUTENANT, 

Fire Department. 

Scope of examination: Physical, duties, 
educational (spelling, penmanship, arith¬ 
metic), efficiency and seniority. 

DUTIES. 

1. State briefly the various methods of 
extinguishing a fire. 

2. Describe the duties of a lieutenant in 
quarters and at a fire. 

3. How may a building be ventilated, 
doing the least damage, without disturbing 
the roof? 

4. What is meant by “fireproof building”? 

(a) “Slow burning”? (b) “Mill construc¬ 
tion”? (c) Which is the safest, and why? 

5. Name four of the most essential build¬ 
ing equipments which aid the Fire Depart¬ 
ment in checking and extinguishing fires. 

6. What is the proper method of attack¬ 
ing a fire in a building that is sprinkled? 

7. What is a cistern, and under what cir¬ 
cumstances should they be used? (a) How 
are they operated? (b) How should they 
be cared for? 

8. How often should hose be tested and 
in what manner? (a) How often should an 
engine be tested and boilers washed out? 

(b) How often should truck companies be 
drilled and ladders be examined and tested? 

9. How should a horse be cared for in 
quarters, at fires and upon returning from 
fires? 


10. What class of buildings require most 
frequent and thorough inspection? 

11. What are the three effective safe¬ 
guards required in modern theaters? 

12. How should the quarters of a com¬ 
pany and the apparatus be taken care of? 


ARITHMETIC. 

(Show work in full.) 

1. Add the following: 64,529, 87,364, 

18,738, 5,679, 4,237, 3,764, 2,578. 

2. Find the total amount of the follow¬ 
ing bill: 180 bu. of oats at 45c per bu.; 2,500 
lbs. of ground feed at $40 per ton; 3 2-3 
tons of hay at $21 per ton. 

3. A stock of goods valued at $18,750 was 
damaged by fire and water to the extent of 
25 per cent, of its value. What was the 
amount of the damage? 

4. An engine throws 850 gallons of water 
per minute. How many gallons can it 
throw in V/ 2 . hours. 

5. A dealer paid $9,504 for 48 head of 
horses. What was the cost per head? 


SPELLING. 

Residence, structure, explosion, precau¬ 
tion, official, operation, extinguish, electric, 
combustible, material, chemical, partition, 
elevator, ventilate, capacity, corridor, emer¬ 
gency, obstruction, sufficient, equipment. 

Penmanship will be marked on the an¬ 
swer to question No. 1. 


74 


CAPTAIN (FOREMAN) 


Answers to Examination Questions and Specimen Ques¬ 
tions, New York City, New Jersey and San Francisco. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

FIRE CAPTAIN. 

Date: December 15, 1915. 
ADMINSTRATION. 

Weight 6. 

(To be finished at 1 P. M.) 

NOTE:—In calculating pressure, friction 
and resistance, wherever occurring, candi¬ 
dates must show clearly their processes or 
formulas used. A mere statement will not 
be considered as an answer. 

Ques. 1 and 2:—You will find below a 
description of a building as shown on the 
accompanying diagram, the location and de¬ 
scription of a fire and other information. 
State exactly what you would do and the 
order in which you would do it if you were 
in command at the fire on a first alarm at 
10.30 P. M. Explain in detail where you 
would place each engine company, each 
hook and ladder company, and what other 
action you would take, assuming that you 
are in command for at least twenty minutes 
until the arrival of a superior officer. There 
is, at this time, a fourth alarm fire for box 
341, the assignment card for which is accom¬ 
panying. There is also accompanying the 
assignment card for box 377, the nearest to 
the scene of the fire. 

Description of Building on Fire.—A mer¬ 
cantile loft building 10 stories high has a 
frontage of 75 feet on the south side of 22nd 
street, extending back 90 feet. There is a 
stairway and elevator shaft on the easterly 
side of the building about 20 feet from the 
street. There are fire escapes on the rear 
of the building. 

Auxiliary Fire Apparatus.—A 4-inch 
standpipe, with regulation fittings, extends 
from cellar to roof. 

Description of Adjoining Buildings.—On 
the westerly side there is a 16-story loft 
building running back to the full depth of 
the building on fire. On the easterly side 
there is a 12-story loft building the same 
depth with light shaft 40 x 10 feet. There 
are side windows on these buildings. The 
windows of both buildings, which face on 
the light shaft are of wired glass. In the 
rear there are 12-story buildings extending 
back to 20 feet from the rear walls. There 
are fire escapes on the rear of all buildings. 

Location of Fire Hydrants.—High and 
low pressure, as shown on diagram. The 
high-pressure pumping station is running at 
175-pound pressure by order of the officer 
in command at station 341. 


Location and Description of Fire.—On 
your arrival you find that a fire has broken 
out some time before and is in complete 
possession of the eighth floor. It has ex¬ 
tended by the front windows on the outside 
to the ninth floor. All employes have left 
the building. 

Direction of Wind.—There is a strong 
wind from the northeast. 

ANS.:—The high-pressure system, work¬ 
ing at 175 pounds pressure, is sufficient for 
the fire described. On account of the 
fourth alarm at station 341, I would only re¬ 
ceive at this fire the covering-up companies 
and second sections in quarters; and, on ac¬ 
count of the fire going out the windows and 
up the front of the building and being in 
possession of the eighth floor, I would im¬ 
mediately transmit a third alarm, and 
would probably have the second alarm com¬ 
panies to work before the arrival of a 
superior officer. 

The second-alarm companies would be 
the following: On first alarm 54 covering 
1, second section of 18 Engine and Engine 
26 covering Engine 14; Hook and Ladder 
21 covering 12; Hook and Ladder 24 and 
Water Tower 3 on second alarm would be 
the second sections of Engine Companies 
16, 5 and 26, and Hook and Ladder 11 cover¬ 
ing 3. 

Immediately on arriving, notify the Chief 
of Department of the existing conditions in 
compliance with rules, and place the com¬ 
panies to the best advantage, using high 
pressure as follows: 

The fire having extended out the win¬ 
dows, must be covered on front first with 
a wagon turret pipe, or the tower, if it has 
arrived. 

The first company to arrive (14) would 
stretch two 3-inch lines from hydrant P to 
standpipe of building, and this company 
would take two lengths of 214-inch hose up 
to the seventh floor, with an axe and con¬ 
trolling lJ4“inch nozzle, and go to work 
from the standpipe. 

The first-due truck, No. 21, would open 
up front doors, and the door to floor, if 
necessary, and also the doors on the floor 
below the fire. The remainder of this 
truck company would place the turret 
wagon in position in front of the building. 

Stretch two lines from hydrant P and op¬ 
erate same to drive the fire back on eighth 
floor, and also cover the ninth until the 
arrival of the water tower, when it can be 
placed in operation by stretching four 3-inch 
lines to same from hydrant Q. 

Engine 1 to 21st street, as this is to lee¬ 
ward of the fire, and stretch to standpipe 
of rear building two 3-inch lines from hy- 


-- 


75 





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76 


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77 


Assignment Cards to be Used in Connection with Questions 1 and 2, Administration, Examination for Fire Captain, December 15, 1915. 






























































































drant X, and go to ninth floor and connect 
to standpipe in the manner above described, 
and operate line in rear windows of build¬ 
ing a fire to prevent the spread of fire in 
this direction. 

Engine 18 to hydrant O and stretch two 
3-inch lines to standpipe of 16-story build¬ 
ing, and take hose upstairs and operate on 
roof of building afire in conjunction with 
Hook and Ladder 24, which would be sent 
to this roof to open up; and if more lines 
were necessary at this point, they could use 
the house lines for the purpose. 

Second section of 16 Engine to building 
west of fire, and stretch two 3-inch lines 
from hydrant O to standpipe of this build¬ 
ing and take hose to eighth floor, and, with 
the assitance of Hook and Ladder 11 cover¬ 
ing 3, operate lines across shaft as may be 
necessary. The truck company could use 
the house lines to carry up additional De¬ 
partment hose for the purpose. 

Engine Company 5 stretch from stand¬ 
pipe of building afire and go in on seventh 
floor and up the rear fire escape to make the 
eighth floor, and, if possible, the ninth, un¬ 
der cover of the line in rear building. 

Engine 26 to stretch from standpipe of 
building afire on fifth floor and follow the 
first-due company up the stairway and, if 
possible, get above the fire. 

By this time I would expect the arrival of 
a superior officer, and I would explain to 
him the extent of the fire, the location of 
the companies, giving the reasons for plac¬ 
ing these companies as designated, the pres¬ 
sure on the high-pressure system, ex¬ 
posures, etc. 

I would have 1%-inch nozzles on all in¬ 
side lines, 1^-inch nozzle on turret pipe, 
and 2-inch nozzle on tower mast. All 3-inch 
hose would be used stretching from the 
high-pressure hydrants, and 2^-inch hose 
in the buildings. 

Ques. 3:—You are the first officer to ar¬ 
rive at a fire in an old style tenement house 
and are in command of an engine company. 
The fire has started on the first floor and 
has possession of the stairwell. A hook and 
ladder company and another engine com¬ 
pany arrive and report to you before the 
arrival of a superior officer. State in detail 
the action you would take with your own 
company and what orders you would give 
and what disposition you would make of the 
two other companies. 

ANS.:—Immediately on arrival, the fire 
having extended to the stairwell, I would 
send a man to the roof with instructions to 
ventilate by taking off the skylights and 
scuttles to give me a chance to enter with 
my line. I would bring my line into the 
hallway and drive the stream up the stair¬ 
well to extinguish the fire overhead and 
prevent, mushrooming, and immediately 
order second line stretched to follow me in 
the hallway and drive the fire back on the 
first floor to give me a chance to follow the 
fire up the stairs. 

Depending on the extent of the fire, I 
might find it necessary for part of the truck 


company to go to the roof and ventilate 
with the man already sent by me. 

The question as to whether there are 
people in the building will largely govern 
the actions of this company. If people 
were caught it would be their duty to raise 
all necessary ladders and effect their 
rescue; if not, I would order them on the 


te 


liti f>c ucsict mp 


+ c + nirc a n rl bpln 


handle the second line. 

On the arrival of the second engine com- 
pnay, I would order them to stretch 
through the building and up the rear fire es¬ 
cape to the top floor to head the fire off and 
extinguish same, and, if the extent of the 
fire warranted, a second line would be 
stretched from the second engine company 
taken up from fire escapes or ladders on 
front to kill the fire in upper part of 


building. 

I believe the apparatus specified would 
hold this fire, and that it would not be 
necessary to send additional alarms, al¬ 
though, as stated, the size and height of the 
building, which is not given in the question, 
would have a large bearing on this. 


Ques. 4:—Under existing orders, it is your 
duty to inspect and report on conditions in 
all buildings in your company district. State 
in detail how you would proceed to make an 
inspection of the following, and also what 
particulars should be contained in your 
report: 

A group of buildings is used as a hospital 
for about 300 patients. The main buildings 
are 5 stories and were built about 40 years 
ago. They are not fireproof. A small 
1-story fireproof structure is used as a 
garage for a motor ambulance. 

ANS.:—A garage such as described must 
be 15 feet from the nearest exposure. From 
its size and location I would not expect to 
find volatile oil stored, but if it was I would 
see that the oil was stored in an approved 
manner, on account of the surroundings. 

In making an examination of the build¬ 
ings, I would examine the stairways, ele¬ 
vators, fire escapes and connections hori¬ 
zontally between the buildings; the location 
of stairways, and, if possible, could same be 
enclosed to prevent the spread of fire 
through the building? Particular attention 
would be given to this matter in regard to 
the cellar stairs. 

See that fire escapes were of sufficient size 
and clear and unobstructed; that all ele¬ 
vators were in fireproof enclosures, and that 
proper fire-alarm communication with Fire 
Headquarters was provided, including in¬ 
terior alarm system and watchmen’s clocks 
to keep a record of the movements of the 
watchman. See that there were standpipes, 
hose and water buckets at proper locations, 
as well as fire extinguishers. See that no 
rubbish was allowed to accumulate on the 
premises, especially in the cellars. 

See that the boiler room, kitchen, laundry, 
etc., were cut off by self-closing fireproof 
doors from the rest of the building. Recom¬ 
mend fire doors at all points where it would 
be possible to make of each building a 


78 


separate unit, with the object of confining 
the fire to one of the group, and provide 
horizontal escapes from building to build¬ 
ing for the rapid removal of the patients in 
case of fire. 

Attention should also be given to the por¬ 
tion of the building used by the nurses, 
physicians and other employes, and to the 
drug shop in connection with the place to 
see that they are clean and free from ac¬ 
cumulations of old furniture and packing 
material which might cause a fire. 

Ques. 5:—Describe the following types of 
apparatus as used in the Fire Department of 
New York City, telling briefly what you 
know of the care and method of operation 
of each: 

(a) Ahrens-Fox motor-propelled and 
motor-pumping engine. 

(b) Front drive Christie tractor. 

(c) American La France motor truck. 

d) Mack motor hose wagon. 

e) Apparatus and equipment used by 
Rescue Company No. 1. 

ANS.:—For complete description of these 
apparatus, see the Chronicle’s book, “Fire 
Department Motor Apparatus.” 

(To be finished by 4 P. M.) 

Ques. 6:—(a) Give a detailed account of 
the methods used in opening up buildings, 
as taught in the Fire College. 

(b) Give a detailed account of the instruc¬ 
tions given at the Fire College as to the use 
of nozzles, including the several sizes and 
styles and when each should be used. Give 
an account also of what has been taught re¬ 
garding the handling, diverting and manipu¬ 
lating of streams. 

(c) You are in command of a hook and 
ladder company and the first to arrive at a 
fire in a 7-story loft building, all floors 
being used in the manufacture of clothing. 
The front door, which is locked, is of heavy 
wood of ordinary construction. The doors 
leading from the stairs into the several 
floors are of wood covered with sheet iron 
and secured by Fox locks. State in detail 
how you would open these doors, telling the 
tools you would use and the exact method in 
which you would use them. 

ANS.:—(a) In “opening up,” I understand 
is meant the opening up of buildings for en¬ 
trance and ventilation, and covers doors, 
windows, roofs, etc. The instructions given 
in tenement fires are: get a man to the roof 
as quickly as possible to get the skylights 
and scuttles off, and, if necessary, cut the 
roof tin and roof boards over the stairwell 
to draw the fire up and out of the building 
and prevent its mushrooming on the top 
floor by coming up stairwells, dumb-waiters 
and airshafts. This applies to all buildings, 
and particularly where the fire has^ ex¬ 
tended to these vertical openings and is on 
the way up. The windows should be 
opened from the roof by reaching over with 
a hook and pushing them down where there 
is no fire escapes to work from. Start at 
the top and work down. When opening up 
iron shutters, start at the point farthest 


away on the leeward side and work to¬ 
wards the window or ladder so you will not 
be cut off. 

In opening a roof, cut the tin with tin 
cutter, lift the roof boards for the full 
length and remove them with the claw tool, 
and then push down the ceiling with a hook. 
Iron shutters can be opened by hitting them 
with a stream of water through the hand¬ 
hole plates in the same where they can be 
reached from fire escape. In other cases it 
is necessary to use the maul and cutting tool 
to cut the hinges or door catches, which also 
applies to iron doors. In other cases, where 
on the outside of the wall they can be 
lifted from the hinges by inserting an axe 
beneath, pry up the shutter. In this case 
care should be exercised that nobody is hurt 
by a falling shutter. Skylights should not 
be broken where they can be removed en¬ 
tire, nor should windows, unless the sash 
ropes are broken or the windows nailed. 

In loft and commercial buildings where 
doors are armored and equipped with Fox 
and other patent locks, use the Kelley tool 
and drive the lock out of place, and when 
this cannot be accomplished, break a hole 
in the wall beside the door and reach in, if 
possible, and open the door. This can be 
done with the claw tool; line should be 
charged and ready in case the fire is at the 
door. In extreme cases, opening in the wall 
can be made large enough to admit a man 
to open the door. For ordinary wooden 
doors, use the Detroit or Hale door-opener, 
and where these are not efficient, knock out 
the bottom panel and let a man through to 
open the door. Don’t open deadlights in 
front of a doorway. Work to one side and 
remove the whole deadlight with two axes 
by driving the blade of the axe on the edge 
of the deadlight with the back of the other 
axe. 

(b) As a general rule, the nozzles used 
must not exceed in diameter one-half the 
diameter of the hose used. All companies 
in the Department are equipped with 1J4 - 
inch, 1^-inch and %-inch controlling noz¬ 
zles, and, in general, according to Depart¬ 
ment orders, are to be used as follows: 

Size of Hose. Size of Nozzle. 

For Z l / 2 -\n., short stretch, 1^-in. 

For 3^-in., medium stretch, iy 2 -\n. 

For zy 2 -\n., long stretch, 1^-in. 

For 3 -in., short stretch, iy 2 ~m. 

For 3 -in., medium stretch, 1^-in. 

For 3 -in., long stretch, l*4-in. 

For 2}4-in., short stretch, \%-\n. 

For 2^-in., long stretch, VA-'m. 

For small fires, particularly in tenement 
districts, 34-inch or smaller tips will be used. 

Ij4-inch controlling nozzles will not be 
used for inside work, but may be used on 
3-inch lines for outside work where a con¬ 
trolling nozzle would be more advantageous 
than an open one. 

The rules direct the Company Com¬ 
mander to be near the pipe and to give the 
signal to start and shut off the water. This 
means that they must use sound judgment 
and shut off or reduce the stream when con- 


79 




ditions warrant it. This will result in ex¬ 
tinguishing fires with the least possible dam¬ 
age from water. 

On all inside lines l*4-inch nozzles will 
be used; and for fires in wood bins in cellars 
or small local cellar fires the Bresnahan or 
Bonner distributors will be used. 

For large cellar fires and fires in hanging 
ceiling under roofs the Baker or Hart cel¬ 
lar pipes will be used. 

For sub-cellar fires the distributors and 
sub-cellar pipes will be used, and these 
pipes can be used to advantage in fighting 
fires in the holds of ships where it is im¬ 
possible to make the deck with a line. On 
’tween deck fires the distributor can be 
placed on the end of a section of the sub¬ 
cellar pipe and placed through a port hole 
and help greatly to extinguish the fire. 

Streams should be directed upward to so 
strike the ceiling that the water will scatter 
and extinguish the fire above and below 
with the least possible water. Do not open 
the nozzle on smoke. After opening up, 
give the floor a chance to ventilate and then 
locate the fire and start the water. 

Turret and tower pipes should not be kept 
in the one window or directed in a front 
window and out the rear of building. They 
should be moved over the face of the build¬ 
ing from window to window and from floor 
to floor, because you are throwing in the 
vicinity of 1,000 gallons per minute into the 
building, and this will cause large water 
damage. These pipes should be shut off as 
soon as the fire has darkened down. 

(c) If there was an outside padlock on the 
front door, place the split end of claw tool 
on the lock staple, and wrench the lock off 
by giving the claw tool a turn to the left or 
right, as possible. If an ordinary door lock, 
and the door could not be forced by the 
use of the Detroit or Hale door-openers by 
placing same under the knob where lock is 
usually located, I would strip off the nosing 
in the center of the door and drive in the 
blade of an axe, and with the help of the 
claw tool, used as a pry, force the doors 
open. If this was a single door, or did not 
open readily by this method, knock out the 
panel and let in a man to open the door 
from the inside. If this could not be done, 
drive in an axe at the hinges and remove the 
door entirely. 

For opening the Fox locks the Kelly tool 
can be driven in at the lock and the lock 
driven out of place, which will allow the 
door to be opened in most cases. These 
doors are difficult to open, and if this 
method did not succeed, I would open the 
wall beside the door and reach in with a 
claw tool and open the door by pulling the 
rod away. Or if of the other double-bar 
type, make the hole large enough to admit 
a man, and with the claw tool he can pry off 
the lock and allow the door to be opened. 
This opening should be covered by a 
charged line in case the fire is near the 
door. In the other floors, after one door is 
opened, I would reach a fire escape, if possi¬ 
ble, and force open the windows and shut¬ 
ters and open the door from the inside. 


Entry could also be effected by a ladder on 
the front to the floor and the Fox lock 
opened from the inside. I 

Ques. 7:—(a) Explain the mechanism used 
for elevating the aerial ladder on an Ameri¬ 
can La France truck and on a Seagrave 
truck. 

(b) Explain the mechanism used for rais¬ 
ing a water tower. 

(c) Explain the principles of operation of 
a reciprocating pump, of a rotary pump and 
of a centrifugal pump. 

ANS.:—(a) The aerial ladder is raised by 
springs capable of raising the ladder from 
a horizontal to a vertical position without 
requiring manual labor, and the ladder is 
checked and controlled by an air cushion 
formed by the ladder itself in raising. The 
raising and lowering device consists of a 
combination of coil-steel springs, enclosed 
in steel tubes permanently mounted on the 
turntable, gear segments forming s shoe for 
the aerial butt ladder and revolving with it 
on the main supporting shaft, the latter car¬ 
ried by forged “A” frames, on the turn¬ 
table and securely attached thereto; a 
train of gears meshing with the above 
segments and operated by crank wheels 
carried by stationary bearings, fitted with 
anti-friction rollers and necessary oil cups; 
an automatic air-controlling cylinder. The 
coiled springs in the cylinders are held in 
compression at all times ready for immedi¬ 
ate use. Upon being released by a foot- 
lever, which operates across head lock, the 
springs in expanding exert sufficient power 
against the cross-head and through connect¬ 
ing rods to the ladder braces to elevate the 
ladder from a horizontal to a vertical posi¬ 
tion without any manual assistance from the 
operator. 

The Seagrave is practically the same as to 
springs and cylinders used in operating the 
ladder, except that the control of the ladder, 
while being raised, is governed by a small 
crank operated by one man to regulate the 
speed at which the ladder elevates. The 
power is in the springs the same as the La 
France. ladder, and in both cases the fly 
ladder is sent out by an endless cable at¬ 
tached to the foot of the fly ladder and 
through pulley at top of main ladder to 
windlass operated by crank handles from 
the turntable. 

(b) To raise the tower get 125 pounds 
pressure on the water gauge; open the con¬ 
trolling valve with the right hand and allow 
the air in the cylinder behind the piston to 
escape; at the same time, with the left hand, 
open the controlling valve to start water in 
the cylinders. This pressure of water on the 
front end of the pistons forces the pistons to 
the rear of the cylinders, and the rod con¬ 
nected to same on the tower engages the 
cog on the quadrant and elevates the mast 
of the tower from a horizontal to a vertical 
position. Two locks are used to lock the 
mast in position and prevent it from fall¬ 
ing back. There are guides on the other 
side to prevent its going forward. There is 
a 4-inch pipe connected to a 35-foot length 
of hose connected to the reservoir on the 


tower. This pipe can be elevated to any- 
desired height up to 65 feet by means of 
cables running in blocks from the top of 
the mast and attached to a drum with 
handles on each side of the platform for 
that purpose. The hose takes the place of 
the pipe as it ascends. The pressure of 
water on the pistons, controlled by the 
valves, elevates the tower, and the release of 
the water pressure with a slight pressure 
on the reverse side to start the tower down 
controls the lowering of same. 

(c) The reciprocating pumps as used on 
the engines in the Department are mostly 
of the duplex double-acting crank and fly¬ 
wheel type, and receive and discharge on 
both ends of the stroke. On the upstroke 
the suction valves below the plunger are re¬ 
ceiving water, and at the same time the dis¬ 
charge valves above the plunger are dis¬ 
charging, and the same operation is re¬ 
peated in the other water cylinder. The 
cranks are set at an angle of 90°, which pre¬ 
vents the pump getting on dead centre at 
any time. 

The rotary pump is not used to any ex¬ 
tent at present, except in the new type gear 
style used on one of the gasoline motor- 
driven engines. They are not efficient and 
lose their efficiency rapidly. They consist 
of two meshed wheels with usually four 
intermeshing spurs enclosed in a water-tight 
case; the water is admitted on the suction 
side and driven by the rotors around the 
case and out the discharge side, the speed 
of the rotors making the pressure. On the 
end of each arm there is a packing which 
touches the side of the case, making it 
water-tight, and the wearing of these parts 
causes excessive slip in the pump. The two 
gears are driven simultaneously by meshed 
gears on the outside of the case. 

The centrifugal pump is a high speed 
pump as used in Fire Department work on 
the newer fireboats and in the high-pres¬ 
sure stations. They consist of a number of 
fans mounted on the shaft in center of 
pump. The blades or impellers on the fans 
do not touch the case and consequently 
there is little wear. The speed of the fans 
imparts the pressure to the water, which is 
led by the guide vanes to the next stage of 
the pump (these pumps being from two to 
six stages), at a certain pressure, where it 
is raised to the next stage of pressure by the 
action of the impellers in this section, and 
so on to the discharge outlet. The water 
is received in the center around the shaft, 
and by centrifugal force thrown outward by 
the fans to the guide vanes through the 
other stages and to the discharge on the out¬ 
side circle of the pump. 

Ques. 8;—(a) Explain in detail the evolu¬ 
tions at the Company School in which it is 
required to stretch a line of hose from the 
drill-yard to the roof of the former Head¬ 
quarters Building in 67th Street. 

(b) Explain in detail the evolutions at the 
Company School in which it is required to 
send up a 35-foot ladder to the roof of the 
former Headquarters Building. 


ANS.:—(a) Three men stay in yard; the 
rest go to the roof, taking roof rope, hose 
roller, axe, perfection pipe holder, and open 
nozzle. Roller is put in position and secur¬ 
ed; rope is lowered to yard; man on ground 
puts two half-hitches and binding knot on 
hose about four feet from butt; hose is 
hoisted to roof; two lengths taken up on 
roof; man on roof makes rolling hitch 
(three rolls and half-hitch) and binding 
knot just under the butt below the cornice; 
rope is fastened to chimney with proper 
knot; nozzle and pipe holder is put on, and 
water called for. 

A supposed bursted length is replaced. 
Instructor may tell you the bursted length 
is in any part of the line. The proper 
method of replacing a bursted length is to 
raise or lower the nearest way to take out 
bursted length. If near the roof, lower hose 
so men can put in new length in yard, then 
pull line to roof and take out bursted 
length. If there is enough length 'in, don’t 
lower at all, but wait until the length is 
added in yard, then pull up and take out 
the bursted length on the roof. If bursted 
length is nearer the ground, lower the hose 
and men in yard take out and replace the 
bursted length. 

When ordered to take up, men in yard 
break the line at the building, hose is low¬ 
ered, and placed as it was when you started; 
drop rope to yard, and men in yard coil up 
same. 

(b) Four men raise ladder, two at butt 
and two on beams, and raise against build¬ 
ing. Three men stay in yard and the rest 
go to the roof, taking hose roller and roof 
rope; lower rope down. One man climbs 
ladder and makes two half-hitches on each 
side at the fourteenth round from the top. 
and then makes a bowline in the center; ' 
two fathoms of rope should be used for 
these knots. Make all knots tight and have 
bowline one round above where hitches are 
tied. Man on ladder climbs down. Two 
men turn ladder, and men on roof pull up. 
When it reaches the roof, turn on beam and 
pull in. 

Lower ladder to ground; men on ground 
take hold of the butt as it comes down; pull 
butt away from building, and lay on 
ground. Drop rope to yard, and men in 
yard coil same up. 

0 

Ques. 9:—(a) Three second size engines 
are connected to a water tower. One at 225 
pounds pressure 14 lengths away; one at 200 
pounds pressure 12 lengths away, and one 
at 175 pounds pressure 10 lengths away. 
What is the nozzle pressure? 

(b) What is the maximum pressure you 
would consider advisable at the standpipe 
valve when 2 men without pipe holder are 
playing on a fire 2 lengths away? Give rea¬ 
sons for your answer. 

(c) A 3-inch line, 1 length from the en¬ 
gine, is Siamesed into 254-inch hose lines 300 
feet long, and thence reduced to 1 length of 
a single 3-inch line where a 124-inch nozzle 
is throwing a stream at 70 pounds pressure 
per square inch. What engine pressure 


81 


must be carried, and how much water will 
be discharged per minute? 

ANS.:—(a) With a 2-inch nozzle on tower 
mast and elevated 65 feet, the head loss 
due to mast would be .434 X 65 = 28 pounds. 
Assuming that we equalize the length of 
lines and engine pressures, we find as fol¬ 
lows: 

1 engine, 225 lbs. and 700 feet 

2 engines, 200 lbs. and 600 feet 

3 engines, 150 lbs. and 500 feet 

575 lbs. 1800 feet 

3)575 

191 average engine pressure 
3)1800 

600 ft., average distance in lines 

By the Fire Underwriters’ constant, 3 lines 
of 3-inch hose Siamesed = 20.4, divided into 
the 600 feet of 3-inch hose in lines, is: 

20.4)600.0(29 feet of 2}4-inch hose as the 
408 equivalent of the 3 lines 


1920 

1836 


Then, by the Underwriters’ formula, we 
have, first deducting the tower head loss, 
191 — 28 = 163 pounds pressure to figure as en¬ 
gine pressure available. 

Formula: 

Engine Pressure 163 

-or- 

1.1 + KL 1.1 + 1.550 X • 6 

.6 = 6-10ths of length of 2j4-inch hose, or, say, 
30 feet. 

1.550 

.6 


.9300 

1.1 


2.03 

2.03)163.00(80 lbs. pressure on nozzle 
1624 


60 

Eighty pounds pressure on 2-inch nozzle 
gives a discharge (from the Underwriters’ Ta¬ 
bles) of 1,063 gallons with an average dis¬ 
charge from each engine of 354 gallons, well 
within the capacity of a second-size engine. 

(b) I consider that two men using the proper 
size nozzle, lJ4-inch for inside work, should 
be able to hit any part of the floor and handle 
same without difficulty with 40 pounds nozzle 
pressure, which gives a discharge of 237 gal¬ 
lons, with a friction loss in the hose and outlet 
of approximately 20 pounds, requiring 60 
pounds on the standpipe outlet. 

(c) With 70 pounds on 1^-inch nozzle, the 
discharge will be found as follows: 


1.375 

1.375 


6875 

9625 

4125 

1375 


1.89 = sq. of diameter 1^-inch nozzle 

V7000(8.3 — sq. rt. nozzle pressure 
64 

_ 160 + 3 

600 3 

480 - 

_ 480 + 9 

1.89 sq. diam. of nozzle 
8.3 sq. rt. nozzle pressure 

567 

1512 


15.687 

30 barometric pressure 


470. gals, per minute discharge 

By Underwriters’ constant, changing 3-inch 
to 2 ^ 2 -inch, divide by 2.6: 

2.6)100.0(34 feet of 2^4-inch hose 
78 

120 

94 


And for changing 2 lines of 2}4-inch to a 
single line of 2j4-inch, the constant is 3.6: 

3.6)300.0(83 feet of 2^4-inch hose 
288 

120 

108 


Making the 3-inch and 2^4-inch lines equiv¬ 
alent to 34 + 83 = 117 feet, or 2.4 lengths of 
2^-inch hose. 

Then, by Underwriters’ formula: 

Nozzle Pressure 

E. P. =- 

1.1 + KL 

or 

Nozzle Pressure 

E. P. =- 

1.1 + .341 X 2.4 
or 

.341 

2.4 

1364 

682 


.8184 

1.1 


1.9184X70=134+lbs., 
approximately the engine pressure. 


82 




















Ques. 10:—(a) Fire escapes on tenements 
or factory loft buildings: State the best 
type of fire escape, whether in vertical tiers, 
straight run stairs, vertical ladders or 
bridges around the fire walls, and why you 
regard it the best or safest for fire use. 
State what conditions as to accessibility, lo¬ 
cation, protection, below and above, render 
them most serviceable. 

(b) What combination of the following 
three elements is the most advantageous for 
a system of automatic sprinklers? Give rea¬ 
sons for your answer: 

1. Ceiling—beams or flat. 

2. Floor area—large, undivided, or small. 

3. With or without communicating shafts 
or stairways one floor to another? 

ANS.:-—(a) On tenements the vertical 
tiers with regular stairways are the best. 
They should be placed, if possible, with only 
one window opening from each apartment 
on to same, and with a drop ladder arranged 
to be let down by the removal of a hook, or, 
better still, the counter-balanced stairway 
should be provided. They should not be 
obstructed by awnings below, and in the 
case of rear fire escapes should be provided 
with goose-neck ladders over the roof. 
This will prevent them from being cut off 
from fire on lower floors, and the absence 
of numerous windows will make the escape 
more tenable in case of a smoky fire. They 
should be provided with direct access to the 
street, and not be obstructed with fences or 
other obstructions in yard and courts. The 
best fire escape of all for a tenement house 
is the balcony connecting separate build¬ 
ings around the party wall, where the oc¬ 
cupants can get direct from one building to 
the other. 

In factory or loft buildings, the bridge 
around fire wall is the best fire escape in the 
absence of horizontal means of egress 
through the fire walls. This takes the oc¬ 
cupants out of the building afire, and on 
every floor simultaneously. Where this 
cannot be done, the straight-run stairs, with 
the windows below protected by wire glass 
to prevent heat and smoke coming up for a 
reasonable time, and with stairway direct to 
roof, and continuous or counter-balanced 
stairway to the ground, is good. 

(b) (1) The flat ceiling. It permits the 
uninterrupted operation of the sprinklers 
over the whole area of the ceiling, and the 
unobstructed direction of fire streams into 
the building. 

(2) Small floor area is the best. Fire in 
this case is confined to this area, and the 
danger of too many heads being released 
and the water and pressure reduced is 
eliminated and the value of the system in¬ 
creased. 

(3) Without vertical openings of any 
kind would be the best, but, of course, out 
of the question, owing to physical condi¬ 
tions in these buildings. As a remedy, by 
having stairways and elevators and all ver¬ 
tical openings enclosed, and sprinklers 
placed at the top of same, there should be 
efficient service. This enclosure would 
mass the heat on the lower floor, prevent its 


following its natural course to the top floor, 
resulting in the opening of sprinklers up¬ 
stairs draining the system and reducing the 
pressure, rendering the system useless. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight 2. 

Date: Dec. 16, 1915. 

(To be finished at 12.30 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—While working at a fire a Fire¬ 
man in your command falls off a ladder and 
is slightly injured. The Medical Officer of 
the Department, upon examining the Fire¬ 
man, finds that he is under the influence of 
liquor. State what action you would take 
while you are still on duty at the fire, and 
the action you would take upon returning to 
quarters. Give reasons for your action in 
each case. 

ANS.:—Upon the Medical Officer finding 
the man was slightly intoxicated, and also 
injured; he should grant him a sick leave 
and relieve him from duty. He has, in my 
opinion, demonstrated very forcibly that he 
is unable to take care of himself, and is not 
fit to be around a fire. I would detail a man 
to take him to his home, if he was granted 
a sick leave, and if not, to take him back 
to quarters and remain with him to prevent 
his leaving the quarters until in fit condi¬ 
tion, so as to prevent possible criticism of 
the Department from his actions. 

On returning to quarters, I would for¬ 
ward a special report of the circumstance to 
the Chief Battalion, who would also be 
notified verbally of the circumstances at the 
fire, and then prefer proper charges against 
the man of being under the influence of 
liquor, drug or compound, and use the 
doctor as a witness, as well as the man sent 
back with him to quarters; make proper en¬ 
try in the company journal of my action and 
the particulars of the case. 

Ques. 2:—As Commanding Officer of a 
company you are required by the existing 
orders of the Department to assign mem¬ 
bers of the uniformed force to make a 
monthly inspection of buildings in your dis¬ 
trict. Prepare an outline of the essential 
provisions of the existing orders of the De¬ 
ment, prescribing the manner in which such 
inspections shall be made, the points to be 
noted, and the various defects and condi¬ 
tions found which are to be corrected by 
verbal notifications of the uniformed force. 

ANS.:—I would instruct him to notify 
owners, agents or superintendents^ build¬ 
ings where defects were found in stand¬ 
pipes, such as defective standpipe Siamese 
on the outside of building, or defective 
couplings on the inside of building; to re¬ 
place missing or broken signs on outside 
and to remedy anv misplacements of check 
valves or connections to roof tanks; to re¬ 
move immediately and keep the premises 
clear of all accumulations of rubbish, such 
as cloth and cotton goods clippings, broken 
boxes, excelsior and inflammable waste of 


83 


all kinds; to refill water pails where same 
are found empty,, and to have all such pails 
ready and accessible in case of fire; to re¬ 
pair defective fire doors where broken or 
improperly hung, and to change doors open¬ 
ing inward and make them open outward; 
to change stove pipes where such pipes are 
not properly secured where passing through 
wooden partitions; to unlock or have the 
bolts withdrawn where doors are found to 
be locked or bolted; to clear aisles leading 
to fire escapes; to display conspicuously 
“No Smoking” signs, where such signs are 
required, and to discontinue smoking in all 
places where smoking is prohibited. 

I would also instruct him to secure 
proper legal evidence in cases where doors 
were found locked or bolted, or smoking 
done in violation of law. This would mean 
the securing of the names of proper wit¬ 
nesses of the acts. 

I would have him make a note of all facts 
in each case, and in case of violation visit 
the building in the company of the man to 
secure the legal evidence required. 

Ques. 3:—(a) Upon whose accusation may 
charges be preferred against a member of 
the Fire Department? 

(b) What are the duties of an officer re¬ 
ceiving charges against one of his men? 

(c) When may an officer withhold 
charges? 

(d) What information must be given re¬ 
garding the violation charged against a 
member of the force? 

(e) By whom must a copy of charges and 
trial notice be served upon the accused? 

(f) When charges are served by leaving 
them at a Fireman’s last known place of 
residence, what must the report of the per¬ 
son serving the charges contain? 

ANS.:—(a) Charges may be preferred by 
the commanding officer of member accused, by 
one member against another member, or by a 
civilian against a member. 

(b) He must investigate the circumstances 
on which the charge is founded and forward it 
to his next superior officer, with his approval 
or disapproval endorsed thereon, and stating 
whether in his opinion the charge can be sus¬ 
tained by the evidence. 

(c) Under no circumstances can charges be 
withheld by any officer. 

(d) He must state carefully in the charges 
what violation is charged, and the time, place 
and nature of the violation. 

(e) The trial notice and a copy of the 
charges must be served by the immediate com¬ 
manding officer on the accused as soon as re¬ 
ceived. 

(f) When the accused is absent without leave 
for a continuous period of five days or cannot 
be found, the commanding officer must for¬ 
ward a report sworn to before a notary public 
or commissioner of deeds, stating that on such 
a date he called at the last known place of resi¬ 
dence of the accused for the purpose of serv¬ 
ing charges or a notice for trial and failed to 
find said member, and served the charges or 
notice for trial on some person at said resi¬ 
dence, who to the best of the officer’s knowl¬ 


edge and belief was of proper age to receive 
same. If the accused is not found, the state¬ 
ment will also include the opinion of the officer 
that the accused, to the best of said officer’s 
knowledge and belief, was not disabled by ill¬ 
ness at the date of said charges or notice. 

In case the accused is found and served, 
statement will emphasize where he was lo¬ 
cated, whether in bed or whether fully dressed, 
and the condition, as far as can be ascertained, 
of accused. 

Ques. 4:—What are the duties of com¬ 
manding officers with reference to each of 
the following: 

(a) Book of Rules; 

(b) Twelve-hour leaves; 

(c) Co-operation with Department of 
Water Supply, Gas and Electricity; 

(d) Upon receiving the signal 6-5 on the 
Morse key while using a street box? 

ANS.:—(a) They shall inspect these 
books quarterly to see that they are kept 
up to date, and that each member makes a 
copy of every order that affects the rules 
and attach same to his copy of same. 

(b) Commanding officers may grant 
leaves of absence to members of their com¬ 
mands and Probationary Firemen, except 
Lieutenants, for a period of 12 hours in con¬ 
junction with regular 24-hour leaves, when 
in their opinion such leaves can be granted 
without injury to the service, or when oth¬ 
erwise ordered by a superior officer. Not 
more than four such leaves shall be granted 
in any one calendar month, and they may 
be withheld as a disciplinary measure. 
When more than two such leaves are 
stopped in any one month a report must 
be forwarded to the Chief of Department 
giving the reason for same. 

(c) Shall notify the officer of the De¬ 
partment of Water Supply, Gas and Elec¬ 
tricity having charge of the hydrants, of 
all needing repairs, and when water is 
turned on in new hydrants report the same 
on being notified by the Water Department. 
Also co-operate with this department when 
any changes are to be made in the gas or 
electric lighting plant in quarters. 

(d) ( This signal 6-5 means “use the tele¬ 
phone.” I would accordingly go to the 
nearest telephone—high-pressure telephone, 
if in the high-pressure district—and call 
Central Office for instructions for box 
where signal was sent to me. 

Ques. 5:—Explain the Captain duties con¬ 
nected with (a) communications relating to 
official business; (b) subpoenas for mem¬ 
bers; (c) responding t oalarms; (d) reports 
of fires. 

ANS.:—(a). They must be forwarded 
through official channels from one officer 
to the other of next higher grade. The 
Captain endorses on the first fold of same 
his name, company, date and an index of 
the contents of the communication. 

(b) He shall receive from the offices of 
the District Attorneys in the various coun¬ 
ties, or from criminal courts, subpoenas fox 
members of his company or for other mem¬ 
bers of the Fire Department quartered in 


the house under his company, and receipt 
for the same, and shall be held responsible 
for the proper service thereof upon the 
member for whom issued. In the event 
of the house watchman being unable to 
serve such subpoena within 24 hours, sub¬ 
poenas shall be returned to the office of 
the Commissioner, with explanation as to 
why not served. 

(c) If while responding to an alarm of 
fire another fire is discovered, he shall leave 
a member at such fire, who will pull the 
box if necessary. If confronted with ex¬ 
traordinary conditions, the commanding 
officer, in the exercise of his best judgment, 
may elect to remain with his company at 
such fire, in which event he will immediate¬ 
ly notify Headquarters; but only one com¬ 
pany shall so remain. Signal 13 must not 
be transmitted unless the company is actu¬ 
ally out of service. 

(d) Shall make reports of all operations 
at fires, giving full particulars on blank 
forms; shall forward on the following morn¬ 
ing reports and particulars of all fires which 
they may hear of, other than the regularly 
reported ones, no matter by whom discov¬ 
ered or extinguished or how trifling the 
damage. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Weight 1. 

Ques. 1:—A serious fire occurs aboard a 
transatlantic vessel docked at a pier in the 
Hudson River. The officer in charge of 
the ship refuses to permit your men to 
board the vessel to extinguish the fire. 

(a) What action should you take under 
the circumstances? 

(b) State fully the jurisdiction of the 
Fire Department in connection with harbor 
fires. 

ANS.:—(a) Explain, if there was time to 
do so, the jurisdiction of the Fire Depart¬ 
ment over harbor fires, and if he was rea¬ 
sonable the difficulty would be straightened 
out. If not, call the Police Department 
representative or any police officer and 
have him arrested. 

(b) The Charter of the City of New York 
provides that in case of fire occurring on 
any vessel in the Port of New York or in 
any dock, pier, wharf, warehouse or any 
other building or structure bordering there¬ 
on, full power and authority to command 
the operation of extinguishing the said fire 
is vested in the Fire Department of the City 
of New York, and to take the necessary 
precautions to prevent communication 
thereof to the shipping in the port or to 
the wharves, piers, etc., as stated.. 

The officer of the Department in charge 
at any such fire, and in the course of such 
operation, may prohibit the approach to 
such fire or to a vessel, dock, etc., of any 
tugboat or other vessel, or any person, and 
may remove or cause to be removed from 


the vicinity of such fire any tugboat or 
vessel or any person who is not actually 
and usefully employed, in their judgment, 
in aiding in extinguishing the fire or in the 
preservation of property in the vicinity 
thereof. Nothing in this law limits the au¬ 
thority of the master or owner of a vessel 
on fire or in danger from fire, subject to the 
general authority granted to the Fire De¬ 
partment in protection of the public inter¬ 
ests. 

This law is made possible by an agree¬ 
ment between the states of New York and 
New Jersey and applies to all of the port 
of New York. 

Ques. 2:—In a 14-story loft building, oc¬ 
cupying a lot 50 feet by 100 feet, describe 
fully what you would consider an adequate 
standpipe and hose system, with particular 
reference to the following: 

(a) Piping; 

(b) Fire engine connection; 

(c) Valves; 

(d) Hose; 

(e) Nozzles; 

(f) Source of water supply. 

ANS.:—A six-inch standpipe in this build¬ 
ing, being over 150 feet in height; pipe to 
be of wrought iron and capable of standing 
pressures to 300 pounds. 

(b) With apparently only one street 
frontage, a three-inch Siamese connection 
on the outside, 18 inches above the curb 
on the front of building, with proper clap¬ 
per valves at each inlet, and female three- 
inch couplings with the standard Fire De¬ 
partment thread, and proper sign indicat¬ 
ing that it was the standpipe Siamese con¬ 
nection. 

(c) A check valve at the tank to keep 
the engines from flooding in and over the 
tank when in service. A check valve inside 
the front wall to prevent water from tank 
reaching Siamese connections on outside of 
building and freezing, with a drip valve be¬ 
tween the clapper valves on Siamese and 
the check to take care of leakage. Two 
and one-half inch outlet valves on each 
floor, gate valves preferred, and made of 
brass with the standard Fire Department 
thread. 

(d) Enough hose, not less than 100 feet, 
to reach any part of the floor, hose to be 
Underwriters’ linen unlined, or the regula¬ 
tion Fire Department hose, 214-inch. 

(e) One-inch smooth bore open nozzles, 
made of brass and securely fastened to the 
hose to prevent theft. 

(f) A # pump in the cellar of sufficient 
capacity to supply the lines; a tank on the 
roof of 5,000 gallons capacity, and the 
steamer connections on the front of the 
building. The water supply to the pump 
should be direct connection to the street 
main. 


85 


Ques. 3:—An eight-story building recent¬ 
ly erected used for manufacturing purposes 
is situated on a lot covering an area of 3,000 
square feet. One of the firms in the build¬ 
ing occupies three floors which have in¬ 
terior communications with one another. 
There are 450 employes in the building, 
most of whom are females. The following 
structural and occupational conditions are 
found: 

(1) One unenclosed freight elevator. 

(2) Two passenger elevators. 

(3) Floors subdivided by wooden parti¬ 
tions reaching to within one foot of the 
ceiling. 

(4) Overhead shafting furnishing power 
to the operators’ machines. 

(5) Interior communicating stairways 
shut off by trap doors. 

(0) One stairway, adjacent to one of the 
passenger elevators. 

(7) Passenger elevators opening on every 
floor. 

(8) Aisles two feet wide and littered with 
cuttings. 

(a) Point out wherein each of the above 
conditions may be in accordance with law, 
or may be in violation of law. 

(b) Where violations are found, suggest 
the necessary changes to be made, with 
reasons, and where the conditions conform 
to law, state the provisions of law regulat¬ 
ing these conditions. 

ANS.:—(1) Being a factory building, the 
Factory Law requires as follows: If not 
provided with automatic trap doors that 
open and close by the action of the eleva¬ 
tor in ascending and descending, it must be 
enclosed from floor to ceiling, on all sides; 
with gates of suitable height, or properly 
constructed sliding doors. This, according¬ 
ly, is a violation. 

(2) The condition of these elevators is 
not stated; therefore, whether or not there 
is a violation cannot be stated. The Fac¬ 
tory Law requires the enclosure of such 
elevators, and that doors and gates shall be 
at all times kept in good repair and in good 
condition, with openings leading to same 
properly lighted at all times. 

(3) This being an eight-story factory 
building, must be constructed fireproof, and 
the law requires all partitions in fireproof 
factory buildings to be of incombustible 
material. This, accordingly, is a violation. 

(4) If it was over seven feet from the 
floor, or less than seven feet and encased 
in an approved manner, it would not be a 
violation; otherwise it would be a violation. 
The Factory Law requires that all revolv¬ 
ing shafting within seven feet of the floor 
shall be protected on its exposed surface by 
being encased in such a manner as to pre¬ 
vent any part of the hair, clothing or body 
of the operators from coming in contact 
with such shafting. 

(5) This is a violation. The law re¬ 
quires in this case that every stairway shall 
be enclosed on all sides by fireproof parti¬ 
tions, extending continuously from the low¬ 
est floor to which such stairway extends 
to three feet above the roof, and the roof 


of the enclosure shall be constructed of 
fireproof material at least four inches thick, 
with a skylight at least three-fourths the 
area of the shaft. 

(6) This is not a violation in this build¬ 
ing, being a new building, and undoubtedly 
stairway and elevator are constructed in 
compliance with the Factory Law. This 
does not prohibit the stairway and eleva¬ 
tor from being next to each other, but does 
require that they be enclosed in fireproof 
construction from cellar to and through 
the roof with the necessary skylight three- 
fourths the area of the shaft. 

(7) No violation, provided that the open¬ 
ings are protected with fireproof doors, or 
the elevator is placed in the stair hall which 
is enclosed fireproof throughout and sepa¬ 
rated from the floor by fire doors. The law 
requires the condition stated, fireproof en¬ 
closure of the shaft and fireproof doors at 
the openings. 

(8) This is a violation in both cases. 
The law requires that unobstructed aisles 
of at least three feet must be kept, and also 
requires that all means of exit aisles in¬ 
cluded must be kept in an unobstructed 
condition. 

Ques. 4:—What are the provisions of law 
that govern the regulations of theaters with 
reference to 

(a) Its dressing rooms; 

(b) Its exits to courts; 

(c) Its scenery and fittings; 

(d) Its storage rooms and workshops. 

ANS.:—(a) Dressing rooms may be 
places in the fly galleries, provided that 
proper exits are secured therefrom to the 
fire escapes in the open courts, and that 
the partitions and other matters pertaining 
to dressing rooms, as to fireproof shelving, 
etc., are complied with, and the stairs lead¬ 
ing to such dressing rooms shall be fire¬ 
proof. All dressing rooms shall have an 
independent exit leading direct to a court 
or street, and shall be ventilated by win¬ 
dows in the external walls. All windows 
shall be arranged to open, and shall not 
have fixed sashes, iron grills or bars. No 
dressing room shall be below the street 
level. 

(b) In addition to the regular exits re¬ 
quired by law, there shall be reserved for 
service, in case of an emergency, an open 
court or space in the rear and on the side 
not bordering on the street, where such 
building is located on a corner lot; and in 
the rear and on both sides of said building, 
where there is but one frontage on the 
street as hereinafter provided. The width 
of such open court or courts shall not be 
less than 10 feet, where the seating capac¬ 
ity is not over 1,000 people; above 1,000 and 
not more than 1,800 people, 12 feet in width; 
and above 1,800 people, 14 feet in width. 
The courts shall extend the full length and 
height of the building, and across on each 
side and rear thereof, where its side or 
sides do not abut on a street or alley, and 
shall be of the same width .at all points 
and exits hereafter specified shall lead into 


such open courts. From the auditorium 
opening into said open courts or on the 
side street, there shall be not less than two 
exits on each side in each tier, from and 
including the parquet and each gallery. The 
said open courts and corridors shall not 
be used for storage .purposes, or for any 
purpose whatever except for exit and en¬ 
trance from and to the auditorium and 
stage, and must be kept free and clear dur¬ 
ing performances. 

(c) All stage scenery, curtains and deco¬ 
rations made of combustible material and 
all woodwork on or about the stage, shall 
be painted or saturated with some non-com¬ 
bustible material, or otherwise rendered 
safe against fire, and the finishing coats of 
paint applied to all woodwork through the 
entire building shall be of such kind as will 
resist fire to the satisfaction of the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings having jurisdiction. 

(d) No workshop, storage or general 
property room shall be allowed above the 
auditorium or stage, or under the same or 
in any of the fly galleries. All of such 
rooms or shops may be located in the rear 
or at the side of the stage, but in such cases 
they shall be separated from the stage by 
a brick wall, and the openings leading into 
such portions shall be provided with fire¬ 
proof doors on each side of the openings, 
hung to iron eyes built into the wall. 

Ques. 5:—Give the main points under 
the law which you would take into consid¬ 
eration in making an inspection of the fol¬ 
lowing places: 

(a) The ground floor of a motor vehicle 
repair shop; 

(b) A store basement used for the sale 
and storage of paints, varnishes and lac¬ 
quers; 

(c) An establishment in which stove pol¬ 
ish and shoe blacking are made; 

(d) A sawdust factory. 

ANS.:—(a) That he had a permit, unless 
he had a garage permit for the same or 
adjoining premises. That he did not keep 
volatile oil or calcium carbide for sale ex¬ 
cept in manner required by the Fire Com¬ 
missioner. That there were no motor ve¬ 
hicles containing volatile oil in their tanks, 
unless the building where they were kept 
was of fire-retarding material, and that he 
was provided with a safety can where oil 
was not allowed for taking and returning 
the volatile oil to and from the tanks, or 
with an approved storage tank for this pur¬ 
pose. 

(b) That volatile oil was not stored, if 
in a tenement house, in excess of 20 gal¬ 
lons, in any building occupied by two fam- 
ilies, nor in excess of 55 gallons in a build¬ 
ing occupied as a dwelling by one family; 
and if a tenement house, that the doors or 
windows to the hall were fire-retarding or 
closed up the same as the rest of the wall, 
and that he had a permit. 

(c) That the place was not within 50 
feet of the nearest wall of any building oc¬ 


cupied as a school, hospital, theater or 
other place of public amusement or assem¬ 
bly, or occupied as a tenement house dwell¬ 
ing or hotel. That it is not of wooden con¬ 
struction; that only electric light is used; 
that drugs, cigars, cigarettes or tobacco are 
not kept for sale; that dry goods, matches, 
rosin, hemp, cotton or explosives are sold. 
That the volatile oil is kept in an approved 
storage system with necessary filling vent 
and drawing off pipes; that tank is under 
ground; that no open lights or fire is on 
the premises, except it is in a room con¬ 
structed of fire-retarding material and closed 
with a fire door; and motors enclosed in 
type “A” Fire Department specifications for 
such enclosure. That it is equipped with 
the number of sand buckets required by the 
Fire Commissioner. That it operates under 
permit. 

(d) See that it was not within 50 feet of 
the nearest wall of a building occupied as 
a school, hospital, theater or other place 
of public amusement or assembly; not occu¬ 
pied as a tenement house, dwelling or ho¬ 
tel; not of wooden construction, only where 
permitted by the Fire Commissioner; be 
equipped with an approved fire-extinguish¬ 
ing system; that paints, varnishes or lac¬ 
quers are not manufactured, stored or sold 
on the premises; that no matches, rosin, 
turpentine or any explosives are kept; that 
it was not exceeding in weight one-third 
of the safe bearing weight of the floor 
where kept. 

REPORT. 

Weight 1. 

(To be finished by 4 P. M.) 

Ques.:—Write a report of not less than 
200 words, addressed to the Chief of De¬ 
partment, giving an account of the changed 
methods of fighting fires due to the erec¬ 
tion of modern high buildings. Give a 
brief account also of changes in law af¬ 
fecting the construction of high loft build¬ 
ings and the protection of persons employed 
therein against the dangers arising from 
fire. 

N. B. 1.—Sign this report “John Doe, 
Capt. Engine Co. 99.” If you sign anything 
else you will be disqualified. 

N. B. 2.—In rating this letter considera¬ 
tion will be given to form, composition, 
etc., as well as to the intelligence of the can¬ 
didate as shown by the expression of his 
opinions. 

ANSWER:— 

New York, N. Y., December 16, 1915. 

John Kenlon, 

Chief of Department, 

Fire Department, City of New York. 

Sir:— 

In compliance with the directions of the 
Municipal Civil Service Commission, I have 
the honor to submit herewith my report 


on the changed methods of fighting fires 
due to the erection of modern high build¬ 
ings, and also of the changes in law affect¬ 
ing the construction of high loft buildings 
and the protection of persons employed 
therein against the dangers arising from 
fire. 

Due to the increased number of high 
buildings, fires in the upper parts of same 
are now handled by standpipe lines from 
the building afire and from the upper floors 
of neighboring buildings. The water tow¬ 
ers and turret pipes on the hose wagons, 
while excellent for use up to the tenth 
story, are useless at the twentieth floor, 
and where the buildings are piled up to 
heights as high as fifty-seven stories, they 
are beyond the reach of the power that 
can be generated both in the high pressure 
fire system and the fire engines in use in 
the Fire Department. 

Because of these conditions, and the enor¬ 
mous amount of material, consisting of 
merchandise of all kinds, desks and furni¬ 
ture, it has become necessary to require 
each individual building to become practi¬ 
cally a fire department in itself, and, ac¬ 
cordingly, to-day it is possible to respond 
to this class of buildings on a call for men 
only, and do effective fire-fighting with the 
apparatus and equipment of the building 
itself. 

The standpipes placed in these buildings, 
now or recently erected, are of ample size, 
and the placing of the intermediate tanks, 
and in other cases of the pressure-regulat¬ 
ing valves which accomplish the same pur¬ 
pose on the standpipe lines, make it possible 
to handle the lines secured from these stand¬ 
pipes at safe pressures independently of 
the height of the building. 

The recently amended Building Code 
makes provision that all buildings exceed¬ 
ing seventy-five feet in height shall be con¬ 
structed fireproof, with a few modifications 
as to windows, floor surfaces, and other 
minor details; and when exceeding one hun¬ 
dred and fifty feet, must be fireproof 
throughout. The Labor Law affecting these 
buildings is more stringent as to width of 
stairways and fireproof enclosure of same, 
fireproof enclosure of elevators, outside 
stairways, fire towers and horizontal exits, 
all of which add to the efficiency of the 
Fire Department in fighting fire in these 
buildings. 

These added to provisions compelling the 
installation of interior fire alarm systems, 
direct connection with Fire Headquarters, 
fire drills, the installation of automatic 
sprinkler systems and continuous inspec¬ 
tions by the Fire Department uniformed 
force under the provisions of General Or¬ 
der No. 7, dated January 24th, 1915, make 
these buildings as safe as possible for the 
occupants in case of fire. 

Very respectfully, 

JOHN DOE, 

Capt., Engine Co. 99. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n., N. Y. 
PROMOTION TO FIRE CAPTAIN. 

(Special Examination.) 

Date: June 23, 1915. 
ADMINISTRATION. 

Weight 5. 

(To be finished by 1.30 P. M.) 

NOTE:—The answers to these questions 
were written in January, 1916, and are from 
the 1916 standpoint. 

Ques. 1:—There is a big fire in the leather 
district, known as the “Swamp,” immedi¬ 
ately south of Brooklyn Bridge, Manhat¬ 
tan. The East River docks are within a 
few hundred yards of the fire. In the dis¬ 
trict are several big printing establish¬ 
ments, a few newspaper offices, a hospital 
for emergency cases, two or three whole¬ 
sale drug houses, and a chemist’s shop. 
Point out the difficulties and dangers of a 
situation like this, assuming that the fire 
has reached big proportions and threatens 
to spread over the entire district. 

ANS.:—The buildings in the territory de¬ 
scribed are of old and poor construction, in 
most cases, and though not of great height 
are rarely protected with sprinklers, except 
in the cellars and sub-cellars. The streets 
are narrow, which would interfere greatly 
with the handling of apparatus, but the in¬ 
stallation of the high pressure fire service 
has added markedly to the efficiency of the 
Department in handling a fire in this 
locality. The section is closely built, the 
rears of buildings in the various blocks 
practically abutting on each other, and in 
most cases protected with shutters of in¬ 
ferior construction. The elevated railroad 
on Pearl street would interfere with the 
work of the Department at the fire de¬ 
scribed. 

The greatest difficulty would be from 
the contents of the various buildings in¬ 
volved in and surrounding the fire: The 
danger of explosion, as occurred in the 
Tarrant fire; the fumes given off by the 
burning drugs and chemicals; the difficulty, 
due to the narrow streets, of throwing a 
stream in on the floors of the buildings 
owing to the acute angle; the rapidity of 
spread of a fire where explosions occur, 
necessitating the quick removal of ap¬ 
paratus and lines in the narrow streets, and 
the direction of the wind and its velocity 
would have great bearing on the handling 
of a fire in this locality. 

While the hospital in this district is not 
large, it would be necessary to have the 
patients promptly removed, as it is some 
distance to the next nearest hospital, re¬ 
mote from this district, and would require 
a number of ambulances to make the trans¬ 
fer, which would be difficult owing to the 
narrow streets and surrounding apparatus. 

The printing houses are not a great diffi¬ 
culty unless they become involved, when 

88 


the weights of the presses and paper, es¬ 
pecially on the upper floors of old build¬ 
ings, would cause a collapse. 

Another difficulty is in response of ap¬ 
paratus where a fire has reached large pro¬ 
portions, due to the fact that companies 
have to come from the upper part of the 
borough, or from Brooklyn on borough 
calls. 

Ques. 2:—(a) Describe the usual methods 
of ventilating a burning building. State 
fully the manner in which you would venti¬ 
late a cellar in which gases were being 
generated by combustion of goods. How 
would you set about to ventilate a floor 
protected by windows of wired glass and 
which cannot be reached by ladders or 
from interior? State the considerations to 
be borne in mind by the officer directing 
the ventilation of a burning building. Give 
reasons. 

(b) Discuss from the standpoint of a 
practical Fireman the following matters: 

(1) Revolving of doors in stores, schools, 
office buildings; (2) Sprinklers as sub¬ 
stitutes for exit facilities; (3) Wire glass as 
a protection against the spread of fire; (4) 
Exterior stairways; (5) Fireproof parti¬ 
tions in non-fireproof buildings. 

ANS.:—(a) The usual method is to have 
the second-due Truck Company go to the 
roof and remove scuttles, skylights and all 
other roof covers to permit the smoke, 
heat and gases to escape, and then work 
down through the building to the lower 
floors, if possible, opening the windows on 
the way down. In case the building can¬ 
not be entered, then the fire escapes, front 
and rear, should be utilized. The point is 
to get the roof open as quickly as the com¬ 
pany with hose line is ready to make en¬ 
try below, and the building should be 
opened at the top as soon as possible, send¬ 
ing one or two men to do the job immedi¬ 
ately on the arrival at the fire. 

Cover all openings to first floor from 
cellar with lines to prevent the fire com¬ 
ing up. To do this it will no doubt be 
necessary to break the store windows on 
the first floor to prevent the men operat¬ 
ing these lines from being overcome. Then 
open up the cellar entrances, dead lights 
and elevator shafts to street and operate 
lines to cover these openings, front and 
rear. Make the entry to the cellar from 
the windward end, and with one or two 
lines drive the smoke, heat and gases out 
through the other end of building. 

Raise the aerial ladder, and have a man 
with a scaling ladder reach up and break 
the windows if possible, to reach them in 
this way; or, hoist scaling ladders to the 
floor below and have a man put on life 
belt and stand on window sill of floor be¬ 
low, being held by the belt by another 
man, and reach up with scaling ladder and 
break windows on floor above; or, use the 
ball and chain from the floor above the fire 
and try and break the windows in this 
way; or, concentrate a powerful stream on 


the windows on floor on fire, which, being 
heated, will no doubt result in ventilation 
of the floor. 

Not to expose other buildings by open¬ 
ing up until the points are protected with 
lines. Work with your back to the wind 
when opening up a roof, so you can work 
without being blinded with smoke. 

Do not break glass in windows or sky¬ 
lights unnecessarily. In some cases a hole 
at the top of a plate-glass window will be 
sufficient and save the rest of the pane. In 
opening a roof, first cut the tin away, and 
then remove the entire roof board, and push 
down ceiling with a hook, which will per¬ 
mit rapid ventilation, with less damage. 

(b) (1) No revolving doors with rigid 
braces should be permitted to be used in the 
buildings mentioned. They should be of the 
collapsible panic-proof type, which, when 
subjected to undue pressure, should col¬ 
lapse in the direction of the exit without 
blocking same, admitting the passage of 
persons out of the building on both sides 
of the wings thus collapsed. Revolving 
doors of this description are considered a 
legal exit by the Fire Department. In the 
buildings of the classes described hereafter 
erected, I am of the opinion that only 
double doors opening outward with a vesti¬ 
bule should be used, as this type is being 
installed in most of the up-to-date buildings 
recently erected. 

(2) There is no record of a human life 
having been lost, in a fire in a building 
equipped with sprinklers, where same oper¬ 
ated properly, in the past twenty years. 
There is no question in my mind that in a 
sprinklered building the number of exits 
can be reduced with perfect safety. In 
this class of buildings a fire is being fought 
at the start, and if alarm is given promptly, 
the occupants should be able to move out 
wfith perfect safety. 

(3) In buildings where conditions require 
light, and for other reasons shutters can¬ 
not be used, wire-glass, if properly in¬ 
stalled, in metal or metal-covered frames, 
the panes not exceeding 720 square inches, 
and properly supported in the frames, I 
consider an excellent fire retardent. Fire 
can be seen through the glass, and it will 
stand a large amount of heat before failing, 
particularly when exposed to the air on one 
side. In the San Francisco fire an electric 
light station in the heart of the fire zone, 
equipped with wire-glass windows, was the 
only building not destroyed, due to the 
wire-glass and several of the employes 
who remained and used what little water 
was available on the windows on the in¬ 
side of the building. Its greatest defect is 
that heat from an exposure fire will pass 
through the glass and set fire to goods if 
placed nearer than within four feet of same. 

(4) Both the exterior stairway enclosed 
in brick or other fireproof walls and the 
exterior screened stairway are of the 
greatest advantage when properly con¬ 
structed and kept free from obstructions. 
They permit the safe egress of the occu- 


pants of the building, and add to the feel¬ 
ing of safety of the occupants, being prac¬ 
tically a separate building and, as a rule, 
free from smoke in case of fire. The Fire 
Department is enabled to reach the fire on 
the particular floor with much less punish¬ 
ment, and by covering this floor can take 
lines to floors above, if necessary, and pre¬ 
vent the spread of a fire. 

(5) Fireproof partitions in non-fireproof 
buildings includes principally factories and 
tenements. The enclosure walls for stair¬ 
ways and stair halls in tenements has done 
more to protect life and prevent the spread 
of fire in this class of buildings than any 
other improvement, excepting the segrega¬ 
tion of the cellars. When provided with 
fire doors, this type of building is safe for 
the occupants, and a fire should be confined 
to the apartment in which it originates. In 
the factories the fireproof partition wall is 
the best fire escape, and the best means 
for the Fire Department to control a fire in 
these buildings. This applies where they 
are constructed in compliance with the 
Factory Law as to double fire doors, and 
starting at cellar floor and being carried 
through the roof, with stairways each side 
of the wall. Lines can be taken up through 
the building, on the side opposite the fire, 
and the whole floor raked with a stream 
from the Are doors, in comparative safety. 

Ques. 3:—(a) Describe the hose which 
engine tenders should carry in different 
parts of the City of New York; (b) De¬ 
scribe the suction and swivels engine com¬ 
panies should be provided with; (c) What 
lights are now used to the best advantage 
in fire fighting by both engine and truck 
companies? (d) As Company Commander, 
how would you assist in enabling drivers to 
take the most efficient routes in responding 
to alarms? (e) On arrival at a fire, what 
judgment should be exercised as to the hy¬ 
drant at which the engine should stop? (f) 
What precautions should be used in re¬ 
moving the hose from the tender? 

ANS.:—(a) In the high pressure zones 
the larger tenders carry thirty lengths of 
3-inch, and ten lengths of 254-inch hose, 
and the smaller tenders ten lengths each of 
254-inch and 3-inch hose. In the outlying 
districts the tenders carry twenty lengths 
of 254 -inch, and in places where hydrants 
are long distances apart, thirty lengths of 
254-inch hose are carried. In most com¬ 
panies outside the high pressure zone, the 
first four lengths to come off the tender 
when stretching in are 3-inch hose, which 
is used to cut down the loss due to friction. 
The new motor scout wagons, equipped 
with chemical tanks, carry 300 feet of 1-inch 
chemical hose, and the Boat Tenders carry 
twenty lengths of 354-inch hose. 

(b) Two 454-inch suctions 1054 feet long, 
to be connected together and then con¬ 
nected to the hydrant outlet by 454-inch 
double female swivel connection. One 
454-inch X 254-inch reducing double female 
swivel connection, to be used when con¬ 


necting to 254-inch outlet on hydrant. The 
use of the 454-inch suction 4 feet long, 
used to connect two engines together and 
take supply from the same hydrant, has 
been practically discontinued. One hydrant 
connection, one end 254 -inch female, and 
the other 454-inch female, for connecting to 
hydrant at fire-alarm fires. Both large suc¬ 
tions and hydrant connection may be con¬ 
nected together when for any reason the 
engine cannot be placed close enough to the 
hydrant to connect by the ordinary method. 
The hydrant connection is 254-inch. 

(c) The Searchlight engine lamps to 
cover the front of a building so that 
streams can be directed properly; the 
marine torches carried by hook and ladder 
companies, which, by pulling off the cap 
and filling with water, will ignite and fur¬ 
nish light for overhauling at fires; and the 
ever-ready hand searchlights, furnished to 
Chief Officers and carried by some Com¬ 
pany Officers, which are the safest and best, 
as they will stay lighted in smoke and will 
not cause an explosion where gases are 
present. A new light is being tried out at 
the present time, which originated in the 
Fire Department Repair Shop, and which, 
by placing a small cake of carbide in same 
and filling the case with water, yields a fine 
light, and at much less cost than the marine 
torches. 

(d) Take into consideration the location 
of the fire, and select the best paved streets, 
avoiding as much as possible those streets 
in which traffic is heavy and where the com¬ 
pany would be liable to be blocked. Con¬ 
sideration would also have to be given to 
street conditions (wet, slippery and torn 
up) and the grades, the object being to get 
the company to the fire as soon as possible, 
with the avoidance of accidents. I would 
sit beside, or stand behind, the driver and 
direct him quietly, and see that he had the 
apparatus under control at all times. 

(e) Take the hydrant on the way in to 
the fire, if possible, so as to avoid loss of 
time by making a running stretch. The 
officer responding to a fire should know the 
size of mains in the district, and avoid by 
all means getting on a small main where 
companies are already at work or in posi¬ 
tion. It will be more efficient to make a 
longer stretch from large mains, which are 
usually on the avenue blocks, than to get 
on small mains on the side streets where 
companies are already in position. 

(f) Follow the instructions as given in 
the Fire College, viz.: Stretch to the 
building or other point ordered and take off 
one length for each story to the floor on 
which you are going to work, and one 
length extra. This will avoid strewing hose 
all over the street, thereby reducing the 
friction losses, and it will cause better 
streams. Stretch 3-inch hose to the door, 
and fill out with 254 -inch where entering 
the building. In stretching in, keep on the 
side of the street with the engine and have 
the men follow up, placing the hose as near 
as possible to the curb, to prevent same 


from being crossed by apparatus, until it 
is necessary to cross the street at the fire. 

Ques. 4:—(a) Describe five classes of fires 
in which water should be used but spar¬ 
ingly* if at all. Give reasons in detail, (b) 
As Company Commander, state how you 
would compute the number of gallons of 
water used at a particular fire. 

ANS.:—(a) Where lime is afire, water 
should be used sparingly, because it causes 
the lime to slake and go afire. The barrels 
not on fire should be removed, the pieces 
of burnt barrels thrown out, and the lime 
covered with sand or dirt. In varnish fires, 
water will float the varnish (which will 
burn on the surface of the water) to other 
portions of the plant and spread the fire. 
If the fire is small, cover the vat or, wher¬ 
ever the fire may be, with the metal cover 
provided in these plants to smother the fire, 
or use sand or sawdust for the same pur¬ 
pose. If the fire is large, water must be 
used, and the lines operated so as to drive 
the fire back and keep it in the building, 
and, if possible, dig channels around or 
bank up the earth in the direction the var¬ 
nish is flowing and give it a chance to burn 
out, at the same time covering the surround¬ 
ing property with lines, and prevent the 
spread of the fire. 

In oil plants, the water will cause the oil 
to float around and endanger the rest of 
the plant. In these places it depends on 
what portion of the plant is on fire. In 
agitators and stills, the lines should be kept 
on the outside of the tanks, agitators or 
stills to keep them cool, while the oil is 
being drawn off to the other portions of the 
plant, and no lines played into the oil, as 
it will result in an explosion and cause the 
fire to spread throughout the plant. Oil 
will burn on the surface of the water, and 
flow throughout, if this method is not fol¬ 
lowed. These plants are provided with 
special equipment for handling these fires, 
viz.: Steam can be turned into tanks, 

agitators and stills and, if closed, will ex¬ 
tinguish the fire. In addition to the new 
process of bicarbonate of soda, aluminum 
sulphate and licorice is kept in tanks and 
piped throughout the plant, and can be 
used to good advantage in extinguishing 
these fires. 

No water should be used where calcium 
carbide is afire. The building should be 
ventilated to allow the escape of the gas, 
and the surrounding property protected 
with lines. Where a small quantity is 
afire and the premises are open, and gas 
not confined, fires have been extinguished 
by throwing a heavy stream in and washing 
the carbide out of the building. The addi¬ 
tion of water to calcium carbide causes the 
formation of acetylene gas, which is highly 
explosive. 

In tenement and apartment house fires, 

water should be used sparingly, unless the 
fire is of large proportions. Companies in 
these districts should always keep the tip 
on the nozzle to avoid excessive water 
damage. Don’t open the line on smoke. 


Have the building ventilated, and then get 
to the seat of the fire. Give it a dash with 
the line, and shut off until the smoke clears, 
and use the tip for washing down. By 
following this method large water damage 
will be avoided. 

(b) Special Order No. 226, dated Decem¬ 
ber 14, 1915, gives the method of finding the 
friction losses in the different sizes of hose, 
for 100-foot lengths, and the formula for 
finding discharge from any size nozzle. 
(NOTE:—The order will be found else¬ 
where in this book.) No provision is made 
for finding the nozzle pressure, which must 
be found to get the total quantity dis¬ 
charged. This can only be found by using 
the Pitot gauge, or by using the following 
formula, where the engine or hydrant pres¬ 
sure is known, as would be the case work¬ 
ing at a fire. 

Formula: —Divide the engine pressure 
by 1.1, plus constant for the size of hose 
and nozzle used, multiplied by the number 
of 50-foot lengths of hose; or, assuming 300 
feet of 2j4-inch hose to be stretched from 
an engine having 150 pounds engine pres¬ 
sure, using lj+inch nozzle, and in use for 
one hour, the problem would be as follows: 

150 


1.1 + .248 X 6 

.248 

6 


1.488 

1.1 


2.588)150.000(57 lbs. nozzle pressure 
12940 (approximate) 


20600 

18116 

V5700(7.5=sq. root of nozzle 
49 pressure 

140+ 5 - 

5 800 

- 725 

700+25 

1.25 

1.25 


625 

250 

125 


1.5625 sq. D. nozzle 
1.56 sq. D. nozzle 
7.5 sq. root nozzle pressure 


780 

1092 


11.7 

30 bar. pres. 


351. gals, per min. discharged from 1% 
inch nozzle at 57 lbs. pressure. 
And for 60 min. would be: 351 

60 


21,060 gals. 













Ques. 5:—(a) To what extent is the effi¬ 
ciency of the fire alarm system likely to be 
impaired if two keyless boxes on the same 
circuit are pulled at the same time? (b) 
How would arranging the boxes so as to 
relay their messages prevent the number of 
circuits being increased above the normal 
point? (c) Are non-interference boxes in 
use, and to what extent? (d) Could they 
be used to advantage in the present fire 
alarm system of the City of New York? 
State your reasons. 

ANS.:—(a) There are several types of 
boxes in use at the present time: The in¬ 
terfering box, and the successive and non¬ 
interfering box. If of the interfering type, 
a box pulled on the same circuit will in¬ 
terfere with the first box pulled and may 
result in the loss of the signal. If of the 
non-interfering type, there is a magnet in 
the box which holds back any signal which 
may be transmitted while another signal 
is being received, making it possible for any 
number of boxes to be pulled at one time, 
and allowing each one to be received with¬ 
out any interference. 

(b) By placing non-interfering boxes on 
all circuits the resistance on the lines 
would be kept down, but the number of 
boxes placed on any circuit should not ex¬ 
ceed fifty. In general, the length of the 
line has more to do with the number of 
boxes to be placed on same, owing to the 
increasing resistance. 

(c) Non-interfering boxes are in use to 
some extent, where the new boxes have 
been placed. In the older outlying sections 
of the city the old style interfering boxes 
are still in use. All boxes placed in recent 
years are of the non-interfering type. 

(d) They could be used, in my opinion, 
as they are the only boxes giving satisfac¬ 
tion and by which an alarm will get to the 
Central Office so as to be intelligible to the 
operators. With the use of the interfering 
boxes, a good percentage of the fires, where 
two interfering boxes are pulled at the same 
time, would be lost, except for the efficiency 
of the operating staff. 

Ques. 6 and 7:—You will find below a de¬ 
scription of a building, the location and de¬ 
scription of a fire and other information. 
State exactly what you would do, and the 
order in which you would do it, if you were 
in command at the fire on the first alarm. 
Explain in detail where you would place 
each piece of apparatus at your disposal and 
what other action you would take until the 
arrival of a superior officer. You have at 
your disposal three hook and ladder trucks 
and fire engine companies on the first 
alarm. 

Use of Buildings.—The buildings de¬ 
scribed below are used as a hospital for 
children. All the wards are occupied at the 
time of the fire. 

Description of Buildings.—A row of 4 
brown stone private houses 5 stories high 
extend 100 feet from the corner of A street 
and Dash avenue extending back 60 feet. 


These houses have been connected by door¬ 
ways with steel doors 10 feet from the rear 
of each building on every floor. The base¬ 
ments have not been altered and are used 
for offices and sleeping rooms for the help 
attached to the hospitals. The second, third 
and fourth floors of each building have been 
altered into large single rooms, used as hos¬ 
pital wards. The top floor of the fourth 
building from the corner is used as an op¬ 
erating room, with a large wired glass sky¬ 
light 20 x 20 feet. The top floors of the 
other buildings are used as living apart¬ 
ments for the hospital staff. The original 
stairways have been left in each building. 
There is a brick elevator shaft in the ex¬ 
treme end of the fourth building, extending 
from the basement to the operating room. 
The doors leading from the several floors 
to the elevator shaft are of plate glass. 
There are fire escapes on the rear of each 
house. A yard 40 x 100 feet is in the rear of 
the buildings, with an entrance from Dash 
avenue. 

Auxiliary Fire Apparatus.—A 3-inch 
standpipe, with hose attachment, is located 
in each hallway, with regular Siamese con¬ 
nection in the front of each building. 

Location of Fire Hydrants.—Fire hy¬ 
drants are located about every 150 feet from 
the building, on each street, with a good 
supply of water in each. 

Location and Description of Fire.—A fire 
has broken out in the basement of the 
fourth house near the elevator shaft. The 
hospital attendants had started to fight the 
fire from the standpipes and had delayed 
sending an alarm. On your arrival you 
. find that the fire has extended through the 
shaft and has mushroomed into the operat¬ 
ing room on the top floor. 

ANS.:—Immediately upon reaching the 
fire, send in a second alarm, on account of 
the extent of the fire and the construction 
and occupancy of the buildings. The at¬ 
tendants should have been instructed in a 
fire drill, and should have the children in 
the wards in building afire removed to the 
second building away from the fire. I 
would ascertain immediately if this had 
been done, and if not, send part of the first 
H. & L. Co. on the scene to do so. 

The first thing to be done is to get a man, 
or a couple of truck or engine men (which 
ever is on the ground first), to get to the 
roof of building afire and open up the wire- 
glass sklight over operating room and over 
elevator shaft to pull the fire out of the build¬ 
ing, relieve it of heat and smoke, and give 
the companies a chance to come in from 
below and the adjoining building through 
the fireproof doors. 

The first Engine Co. to arrive would 
• ° r ~ ere< * to take their line to cellar stairs 
m haflway and keep the fire back, and, in 
addition, kill the fire on this floor around 
the elevator shaft, with enough hose to go 
up the stairway, as soon as a second line 
would be stretched from this same com¬ 
pany, to take their place at the stairway 
and permit them to make the top floor from 


92 


The second Engine Co. would stretch 
their first line to the yard in the rear from 
Dash avenue, and if the fire in basement 
permits, take line up rear fire escape to the 
top floor, giving the doors of elevator shaft 
at each floor a dash on the way up to hold 
the fire, and if not possible to make the fire 
escape, wait until second line from this 
company is stretched by part of the second 
due H. & L. Co., and while they cover rear 
of cellar, get to the top floor to prevent 
the fire from extending. 

The third Engine Co. to stretch to stand¬ 
pipe on building next to fire and cover the 
three upper floors through the fire doors 
where it may be necessary, by lines 
stretched from the standpipe, and operated 
by this company and part of the second- 
due Truck Co. The object of these lines 
would be to reach the fire where it had got¬ 
ten out of elevator shaft at the plate glass 
in doors. 

The most important thing to be con¬ 
sidered is the safety of the children, and 
the attendants in the hospital. Police and 
Firemen would be utilized, as stated, to get 
them to safety in the second and third 
buildings away from the fire. 

On arrival of my superior officer, I would 
report to him the action I had taken. The 
second alarm is sent as a precautionary 
measure, as this fire should be held by the 
first-alarm companies. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—(a) What details should be 
contained in each of the following reports 
of occurrences at a fire: Accidents; am¬ 
bulance calls; trouble with fuel; use of high 
pressure hydrants? Explain how reports of 
fire are consolidated and forwarded, (b) 
What are the duties of the house watch re¬ 
garding water in boilers; apparatus for 
heating water, hot-air furnaces; telephone 
and telegraph apparatus? 

ANS.:—(a) The time and date of the 
accident; the cause; the names of the per¬ 
sons injured or killed; the damage to prop¬ 
erty, whether trifling or considerable; de¬ 
scription of point where accident occurred; 
names of witnesses. 

Unless the ambulance call is sent out for 
injuries to a member of the Department, 
no report is required, entry in the company 
journal being sufficient. In other cases, the 
same particulars as in (a) should be fur¬ 
nished. 

In the case of inferior fuel, the reports 
must show from what depot the fuel or 
gasoline was taken and the effect it caused 
on the steaming of the boilers, or the 
operation of the motor in the case of 
gasoline. 

In the case of high pressure hydrants, 
after use the report must contain the num¬ 
ber and location of hydrants used, and the 
exact condition they were in upon opening 
and after use. 

Reports of fires in all boroughs shall be 


forwarded by Commanding Officers of com¬ 
panies to Battalion Chiefs, the same to be 
forwarded with Battalion Chief’s report to 
the Battalion Chief first due at the fire, who 
shall make out a consolidated report of all 
operations, giving full information as re¬ 
quired on fire report cards. These reports 
shall be forwarded to the Deputy Chief 
present at the fire (when a Deputy Chief 
is assigned), who shall state in the column 
of “remarks” the exact time of his arrival 
at the fire, the time he remained on duty, 
and the time he returned to quarters. 
Deputy Chiefs in all boroughs shall ex¬ 
amine, sign and forward all such reports to 
the Chief of Department. Duplicate re¬ 
ports of all fires in the Boroughs of Brook¬ 
lyn and Queens shall be on file at the office 
of the Deputy Chief in charge of those 
boroughs. 

(b) He shall see that the water in boiler 
was and is kept at the proper temperature: 
that the apparatus for heating water for en¬ 
gine boiler is kept constantly supplied with 
water; that the fires are properly kept and 
attended to; that the hot-air furnaces, 
boilers, stoves and heaters of every kind are 
attended to and kept properly supplied with 
fuel. They shall be responsible for cor¬ 
rectly receiving and reporting to the Com¬ 
manding Officer and companies every sta¬ 
tion sounded on the gong, or any alarm 
from any cause, whether telegraph, verbal 
or visible, and shall keep a record in the 
company journal of all irregularities on 
telephone or combination circuits.. They 
shall, on receiving an alarm of fire, -immedi¬ 
ately sound the combination instruments, 
assist in hitching the horses, and proceed 
with the apparatus to the fire. 

Ques. 2:—Give an account of the work of 
the Fire College established in your De¬ 
partment, covering its objects, courses, 
methods, etc. 

ANS.:—The primary object of the Fire 
College is to instruct all the members of 
the Department in fh e various grades in the 
duties of those grades, and to formulate as 
nearly as possible standard methods for 
fire extinguishment, and the handling and 
care of apparatus, tools and equipment of 
the Department. 

The Fire College is composed of the fol¬ 
lowing schools: Officers’ School, En¬ 

gineers’ School, Probationary Firemen’s 
School, and the Company School. 

It maintains courses of instruction in 
the following subjects: General Fire Fight¬ 
ing: Use of Apparatus and Tools; Engines 
and Boilers: Use of High Pressure Sys¬ 
tems; Marine Fires; Care of Horses; Care 
of Hose: Sapping and Mining: High Ten¬ 
sion Electric Currents: Combustibles and 
Explosives: Gasoline Motor Engineering: 
Fire Alarm Telegraphs, including Auxiliary 
Systems; First-Aid to the Injured: Dis¬ 
cipline. and Administration. 

It is administered bv the Fire. College 
Board. The Chief of Department is Presi¬ 
dent of the Board, ex officio, and the Board 
is subject to the control of the Commis- 

93 


sioner. Final examinations are held and 
reports made to the Commissioner of all 
members who have successfully completed 
the course. 

All Officers of the Department, except 
members of the Fire College, and all En¬ 
gineers and Firemen who are eligible for 
promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, at¬ 
tend under such rules and regulations as 
are established by the Board. Instruction 
in this school is given in two classes, each 
of which consists of twenty-five members, 
as announced in the Special Orders of the 
Department. Sections of the class are re¬ 
quired to attend for instruction three times 
a week, from 10.00 A. M. to 1.00 P. M., 
for a period of six weeks. The two sec¬ 
tions are under instruction at the same time 
on alternate days. 

All Engineers shall attend the Engineers’ 
School, and Firemen of the first and second 
grades, upon their own application, ap¬ 
proved by the Board, will be granted per¬ 
mission to attend this school. The course 
of instruction in this school is limited to an 
extended course in Engines, Boilers and 
Gasoline Motor Engineering. 

All Probationary Firemen shall attend 
the Probationary Firemen’s School for a 
period of thirty days, upon their appoint¬ 
ment as Probationary Firemen. The in¬ 
struction in this school is limited to prac¬ 
tical instruction in the use of tools, scaling 
ladders and other life-saving appliances, 
and elementary instruction in First-Aid to 
the Injured. No Probationary Fireman 
can be appointed who has not completed 
this course to the satisfaction of the Board. 

All companies must attend the Company 
School, with their entire complement of 
members, at such times and places as the 
Board may from time to time direct. This 
school includes demonstrations in the use 
of apparatus and tools. 

Ques. 3:—(a) What is your duty as Com¬ 
pany Commander in the case of certain fire- 
alarm boxes to which there are no fourth 
or fifth-alarm assignments; (b) A defective 
dumb-waiter shaft in a tenement house 
erected in 1900; (c) An unsafe building; (d) 
A member of your command reporting for 
duty in uniform at company quarters while 
company is out on call, rides to fire in a 
private citizen’s automobile; (e) An auto¬ 
matic sprinkler in a dry goods house out of 
order? 

ANS.:—(a) Where there are no fourth or 
fifth-alarm assignments to fire-alarm boxes, 
Company Commanders shall mark on the 
back of the cards in all the fire-alarm boxes 
in their company district the number of the 
next nearest box having a fourth or fifth- 
alarm assignment, stating the number of 
alarms assigned to it. 

(b) Forward duplicate reports on Form 
“A.” While there is nothing in the Tene¬ 
ment House Law compelling the enclosure 
of dumb-waiter shafts in old-law tenements, 
there is a provision of the Building Code 
which requires the enclosure of dumb¬ 
waiter shafts in the cellar in 8-inch brick 


walls and fireproof doors in cases similar 
to the one here quoted. 

(c) The Building Code requires that all 
buildings that may be unsafe from any 
cause shall be made safe or taken down and 
removed. I would accordingly forward a 
report, stating the conditions, and the same 
would be forwarded to the Bureau of Build¬ 
ings for action. In case there is immediate 
danger of the collapse of a building, the 
Superintendent of Buildings is empowered 
to have the inmates removed and to close 
the street to prevent accident, and to take 
such further action as may be necessary to 
make the building temporarily safe. 

(d) Members of the Department are pro¬ 
hibited by the rules from riding in an auto¬ 
mobile, other than a Department machine, 
while in uniform. Charges should accord¬ 
ingly be preferred against this member. 

(e) The rules require Commanding 
Officers to forward reports on the 20th of 
the month on all standpipe and sprinkler 
systems found out of order. In addition, 
immediate report should be made to pre¬ 
vent companies from connecting to a 
sprinkler system that was defective. 


Ques. 4:—Explain the different kinds of 
leave of absence granted to members of the 
Fire Department, and in each case mention 
the time usually allowed, and the authority 
granting the leave. 

ANS.:—The officers authorized to grant 
leaves are as follows: For all Chief 
Officers and Acting Chiefs while so acting, 
by the Chief of Department. Special leaves, 
without pay, by the Chief of Department. 
For all Captains and Lieutenants, by Bat¬ 
talion Chiefs or by Acting Battalion Chiefs 
while so acting. For Engineers of Steamers, 
Marine Engineers, Pilots, Firemen and 
Probationary Firemen, by Captains or 
Lieutenants while in command. 

Sick leaves, by the Medical Officers. 
Leaves applied for, which are not regular 
special, vacation or sick leaves, by the Fire 
Commissioner, on the recommendation of 
the Chief of Department. 

Battalion Chiefs may, in their discretion, 
grant leaves, of absence to Captains and 
Lieutenants in their battalion for a period 
of twelve hours, in addition to regular 
leaves of absence, every fifth day, when 
such leaves, in their opinion, can be granted 
without injury to the service, and except 
when otherwise ordered by a superior 
officer. Not more than three such leaves 
shall be granted in any one calendar month. 
Commanding Officers of companies have 
the same power as just stated, in the case of 
members of their companies and Probation- 
ary Firemen (except the Lieutenants). 
When necessary in this case, these leaves 
can be withheld as a disciplinary measure, 
but when more than two leaves are with¬ 
held in any month a special report must be 
forwarded to the Chief of Department stat¬ 
ing the reason therefor. In addition, Com- 
manding Officers of companies can grant a 
leave of absence not to exceed one and one- 
halt hours in extraordinary cases. 


94 


Members are given the following vaca¬ 
tion leaves: Chiefs and Acting Chief 
Officers, 30 days; Captains and Lieutenants, 
21 days; Engineers of Steamer, Marine En¬ 
gineers, Pilots and Firemen, 14 days. 

134 hours for each meal three times a 
day; 2 hours for each meal twice a day, or 
3 1 / 2 hours for one meal each day. Mem¬ 
bers of companies south of 14th street, 
Borough of Manhattan, shall receive, when 
practicable, additional time for each meal 
as follows: Three meals, 34 hour; two 
meals, 34 hour; one meal, 34 hour. 

In case of dangerous illness of the wife, 
child, parent, brother or sister of a mem¬ 
ber, leaves of absence for a reasonable 
period may be granted by Battalion Chiefs, 
and in case of death of any of the foregoing 
relatives of a member, -leaves of absence for 
a proper period may be granted, but not to 
exceed three days in duration, and all 
causes for such leaves will be entered in the 
Company Journal, and report forwarded to 
the Chief of Department. 

Ques. 5:—(a) State exactly what action 
Commanding Officers are required to take 
upon arriving at fires in premises having 
standpipe or automatic sprinkler equip¬ 
ments; (b) State fully the duties of Com¬ 
manding Officers of companies regarding 
the inspection of standpipe and sprinkler 
connections in their company districts. 

ANS.:—(a) Commanding Officers arriv¬ 
ing at fires in buildings having automatic 
sprinkler equipments shall, when prac¬ 
ticable and advantageous, order officers to 
make proper connection to such sprinklers 
for the purpose of more rapidly extinguish¬ 
ing the fire, and a report of same shall be 
made on the report of operations. 

(b) Commanding Officers of companies 
shall cause frequent inspections of all 
standpipe and sprinkler connections in their 
company districts, and see that they are 
kept in proper order and ready for immedi¬ 
ate use, and forward report of all found de¬ 
fective on the 20th of the month. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—What materials must not be 
allowed in or on the premises of a Dry 
Cleaning Establishment, Retail Drug Store, 
Varnish Manufacturing Plant, Storage 
House for Oils and Fats, Ammunition 
Store? 

ANS.:—In Dry Cleaning Establishment: 

The sale of drugs, cigars, cigarettes or 
tobacco; the manufacture, storage or sale 
of paints, varnishes or lacquers; the manu¬ 
facture, storage or sale of dry goods or 
other highly inflammable material; the 
storage or keeping of matches, rosin, tur¬ 
pentine, hemp, cotton or any explosive. 

In Retail Drug Store: The storage of ac¬ 
cumulations of broken wood; waste paper, 
or waste packing material, is prohibited. 

In a Varnish Manufacturing Plant: 
Drugs, cigars, cigarettes or tobacco cannot 


be kept for sale on the premises. Dry 
goods or other highly inflammable material 
cannot be manufactured, stored or kept for 
sale. 

In a Storage House for Oils and Fats: 

Matches or explosives cannot be stored or 
kept. 

In an Ammunition Store: No drugs, 
paints or stationery is permitted. Cigars, 
cigarettes or tobacco; liquors, gunpowder 
or materials of a highly combustible nature, 
or fireworks, are not allowed. 

Ques. 2:—What are the legal restrictions 
regarding (a) Proximity to adjacent build¬ 
ings; and (b) Occupation, wholly or in part, 
for other purposes besides that specified, in 
each of the following cases:. Petroleum 
Storage Plant; Floor Polish Manufactory; 
Motor Vehicle Repair Shop; Dry Cleaning 
Establishment; Moving Picture Theatre; 
Wholesale Drug Store; Livery Stable; 
Public Garage; Paint Store; Match Fac¬ 
tory? 

ANS.:—Petroleum Storage Plant: (a) 

In a storage plant where volatile inflamma¬ 
ble oil is stored, and where the physical 
conditions make it impossible to place the 
tanks under ground, the proximity to build¬ 
ings is governed as follows: If distant 25 
feet from the line of adjacent property, 
which may be built upon, 8,000 gallons; 


30 

feet, 

12,000 gallons 

40 

it 

18,000 

50 

it 

24,000 

60 

a 

30,000 

75 

it 

48,000 

85 

a 

75,000 

100 

a 

100,000 


In these plants where kerosene or fuel oil 
is stored in tanks above ground the quan¬ 
tity allowed is double the amounts stated 
above and under like conditions as to 
proximity to buildings. 

(b) In plants where storage is limited to 
550 gallons of volatile oil and 1,100 gallons 
of non-volatile oils, buildings or premises 
cannot be occupied as a tenement house, 
dwelling, school or place of public amuse¬ 
ment or assembly for the storage or sale of 
explosive, dry goods or other materials of 
a highly inflammable nature. 

Floor Polish Manufactory: (a) Which is 
situated within 50 feet of the nearest wall of 
any building occupied as school, hospital, 
theatre, or other place of public amusement 
or assembly. 

(b) Occupied as a tenement house, dwell¬ 
ing or hotel, wooden construction,. where 
drugs, cigars, cigarettes or tobacco is sold; 
where dry goods or other material of a 
highly combustible nature is manufactured, 
stored or sold; where matches, rosin, hemp, 
cotton or any explosives are stored or sold. 
Motor Vehicle Repair Shop: (a) None, 
(b) To store or keep volatile oil or cal¬ 
cium carbide, except in the manner and un¬ 
der the conditions prescribed by the Fire 
Commissioner; or to receive into such 
motor vehicle repair shop any motor vehicle 


containing volatile inflammable oil, unless 
the building is of fire-retarding material. 

Dry Cleaning Establishment: (a) The 
compartment wherein the volatile inflam¬ 
mable oil is used must not be situated with¬ 
in 50 feet of the nearest wall of any build¬ 
ing occupied as a school, hospital, theatre, 
or other place of public amusement or 
assembly. 

(b) Not to be occupied or used for tene¬ 
ment house, dwelling or hotel; no drugs, 
cigars, cigarettes or tobacco to be sold; no 
paints, varnishes or lacquers to be manu¬ 
factured, stored or kept for sale; no dry 
goods or other highly inflammable ma¬ 
terial to be manufactured, stored or kept 
for sale; no matches, rosin, turpentine, 
hemp, cotton or any explosives to be stored 
or kept. 

Moving Picture Theatre: (a) Not be 
within 50 feet of any building where ex¬ 
plosives, ammunition, oil storage, inflamma¬ 
ble or combustible mixtures are kept, occu¬ 
pied as a garage, or dry cleaning or dyeing 
establishment, where paints, varnishes or 
lacquers are manufactured, stored or kept, 
where calcium carbide, nitro cellulose, or 
inflammable moving picture film is stored, 
where oils or fats are stored or occupied as 
a wholesale drug store. 

(b) Not to be occupied for any other 
purpose, except under theatre license. 

Wholesale Drug Store: (a) Not to be 
situated within 50 feet of the nearest wall 
of any building used as a school, hospital, 
theatre or other place of public amuse¬ 
ment or assembly. 

(b) Not to be occupied as a tenement 
house or hotel; or as a workshop or fac¬ 
tory, except such workshop or factory is 
incident to the business of the applicant, 
or where the building is constructed fire- 
resisting throughout, and where the portion 
occupied for this purpose is separated from 
the rest of the building by fireproof walls 
and. floors. 

Livery Stable: (a) Depending on the 
amount of hay and straw stored. If not ex¬ 
ceeding one ton, no restrictions as to (a) 
or (b). If over this amount is stored, then 
it must not be within 50 feet of the nearest 
wall of any building occupied as a school, 
hospital, theatre or other place of public 
amusement or assembly. 

(b) Not be occupied as a tenement house 
or hotel; no paints, varnishes or lacquers to 
be stored or kept therein; no dry goods or 
other highly inflammable material to be 
manufactured, stored or kept therein; or 
matches, turpentine or rosin or explosives 
to be stored or kept. 

Public Garage: (a) Not be situated within 
20 feet of the nearest wall of a building oc¬ 
cupied as a school, theater or other place 
of public amusement or assembly, except 
that renewals of permits may be granted 
where the garage was in operation previous 
to the opening of the said buildings, or has 
been operating under a permit issued prior 
to May 1st, 1915; and further provided that 
a garage may be erected within 20 feet of 
the buildings described if it has no front¬ 


age on the same street with any frontage 
of such building, and the walls of such gar¬ 
age adjacent thereto are brick and unpierced 
for a distance of 20 feet therefrom. 

(b) Not be occupied as a tenement house, 
hotel or lodging house, or where paint, var¬ 
nishes, lacquers, dry goods or other highly 
inflammable material, rosin, hemp, turpen¬ 
tine, cotton or explosives are maufactured, 
store or kept. 

Paint Store: (a) Not be situated within 
50 feet of the nearest wall of any building 
occupied as a school, theater or other place 
of public amusement or assembly. 

(b) Not be occupied as a tenement house, 
dwelling, hotel, workshop or factory; no 
drugs, cigars, cigarettes or tobacco to be 
kept; no dry goods or other highly inflam¬ 
mable material to be stored or kept. 

Match Factory: (a) None. 

(b) Must be used exclusively for the pur¬ 
pose. 

Ques. 8:—Explain in detail what you 
would tell a man who applied to you for 
information as to what he could and could 
not do in the following cases, as prescribed 
in the Code of Ordinances: (a) He wishes 
to store empty wooden packing boxes; (b) 
he wishes to engage in the manufacture of 
distilled liquors; (c) he intends to start a 
moving picture show, and wants to know 
about the storage of films; (d) he is a con¬ 
tractor and wants to excavate for a build¬ 
ing foundation, which will require the use 
of explosives. 

ANS.:—(a) If more than 2,000 cubic feet 
was to be stored, have him apply to the Fire 
Commissioner for a permit. Then inform 
him that if stored in a building under a per¬ 
mit the walls would have to be built of fire¬ 
proof material, except in sparsely populated 
districts, and could not be within 50 feet 
of the nearest wall of any building occu¬ 
pied as a school, hospital, theatre or other 
place of public amusement or assembly. If 
in a lot, it would have to be enclosed by a 
substantial fence, not less than ten and not 
more than 18 feet above the street level. If 
any building having an unpierced firewall 
adjoins the enclosure, no fence shall be re¬ 
quired on the side* of the building. The 
storage space must be separated from any 
window or door openings of the wall of an 
adjoining building, by a substantial fence of 
fire-retarding material of a height satisfac¬ 
tory to the Fire Commissioner, erected at 
least 6 feet from such opening and extend¬ 
ed at least 6 feet on each side thereof, and 
continued to the sides of the enclosure or 
carried to the walls of the building. 

(b) Have him apply to the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner for a permit, and inform him that 
the building must not be of wooden con¬ 
struction, and must not be within 50 feet 
of the nearest wall of any building occupied 
as a school, hospital, theatre or other place 
of public amusement or assembly, and be 
equipped with an approved fire-extinguish¬ 
ing system. Distilled liquors, spirits or 
alcohols shall not be stored in excess of 1 
barrel for each 4 square feet of cellar floor 


96 


space, nor piled more than two high, and 
the process of distillation and rectification 
must not be carried on in any room where 
there is an open flame. 

(c) Notify him that an approved fireproof 
box must be provided for the storage of all 
film not on the machine, and that films must 
not be stored in any other place on the 
premises. 

(d) Notify him to obtain a permit from 
the Fire Commissioner, and that unless it 
was a magazine of the 5th class he would 
require a Magazine Keeper, while in the 
other case the Blaster licensed would be re¬ 
sponsible for the care of the magazine. The 
Magazine Keeper must keep a record of all 
explosives delivered from the magazine 
(first, the explosives longest therein), and 
keep the magazine locked when not in use, 
and the key in his possession, and be re¬ 
sponsible for the care of the magazine. 
Mark all explosives placed in the maga¬ 
zine with an identification number furnished 
by the Fire Commissioner. 

Ques. 4:—(a) What floor load is allowed 
in a non-fireproof building used for loft 
purposes? (b) What floor load in the case 
of high grade building? 

ANS.:—(a) 120 pounds. 

(b) 150 pounds. 

(NOTE:—Section 55 of Chapter 5 of the 
Code of Ordinances does not specify the 
floor loads, and the above are from the old 
Building Code.) 

Ques. 5:—Give the substance of the pro¬ 
visions of the ordinance governing the use 
of hydrants located in the public streets. 

ANS.:—No person other than an employe 
of the Department of Water Supply, Gas 
and Electricity, or the Fire Department, 
shall open, use or tamper with a fire hydrant 
or high-pressure hydrant, without previous 
permission in writing from the Commis¬ 
sioner of Water Supply, Gas and Electric¬ 
ity; nor shall any person leave such hydrant 
open for a longer period than shall be lim¬ 
ited in the permission, or use water for 
other purposes than shall have been author¬ 
ized by the Commissioner. 

No person shall in any manner obstruct 
the use of any fire hydrant or allow any 
snow or ice to be thrown or piled thereon, 
or place or allow to be placed any material 
in front thereof from the curb line to the 
center of the street, or within 10 feet from 
either side thereof. All snow and ice accu¬ 
mulating in the street, within the space 
mentioned, shall be removed by the owner, 
lessee or tenant of the premises fronting 
the said space, in the same manner as is 
prescribed for the keeping clear of the side¬ 
walk. All material or things found ob¬ 
structing any fire hydrant may be forthwith 
removed by the officers or employes of the 
Fire Department, at the risk, cost and ex¬ 
pense of the owner or tenant. The Fire 
Commissioner shall take all proper precau¬ 
tions to prevent the hydrants from freezing 
and see that they are in proper condition 
for use at all times. 


REPORT—Weight 2. 

(To be finished by 5.30 P. M.) 

Write a report of at least two pages in 
length to the Fire Commissioner, outlining 
a plan for educating the public in Fire Pre¬ 
vention. 

N. B. 1. Do not sign any name, number, 
title, initials or distinguishing mark to this 
report. If you do, your papers will not be 
rated. 

N. B. 2. In rating the report considera¬ 
tion will be given both to the value of the 
fire information contained therein and to 
the form in which the report is prepared. 

ANSWER: 

New York, N. Y., June 23, 1915. 

Hon. Robert Adamson, 

Fire Commissioner. 

Sir:— 

In compliance with instructions. received 
from the Municipal Civil Service Commis¬ 
sion, I have the honor to submit herewith 
my report outlining a plan for educating 
the public in Fire Prevention. 

The first and most important step I would 
suggest is to have monthly inspections made 
of all buildings in the city, except private 
dwellings, and instruct the Firemen when 
making these inspections to pay particular 
attention to rubbish accumulations, obstruc¬ 
tions or other defects in fireproof doors, 
obstructions to exits and fire escapes, empty 
or defective fire pails, and any condition 
that would be liable to cause fire. The men 
should be instructed to meet the persons in 
charge of these places cheerfully and 
explain to them, from the Fireman’s point 
of view, the possibilities of danger in these 
neglectful acts. I believe that these short 
talks to owners and occupants of buildings 
will, owing to the esteem in which the 
Firemen are held by the public and the 
knowledge and experience known to be ac¬ 
quired by them in their work, accomplish 
considerable towards preventing fires oc¬ 
curring in these buildings. 

There is another view of this matter which 
requires consideration which applies to the 
owner who will not clean up and who does 
not care. We have in the Charter of the 
City of New York a provision which states 
that if a fire is caused by any person through 
wilful or culpable negligence or criminal 
intent or design, such person shall, in addi¬ 
tion to the punishment provided in the case 
of arson, be responsible for such injury to 
persons or property as may result from 
such fire, and legal recovery can be made 
for the damages suffered. 

I am of the opinion that if suit were 
brought in a few of these cases of careless¬ 
ness and neglect to comply with the orders 
of the Fire Department to remedy defects, 
the publicity created would cause the re¬ 
moval of numerous dangerous conditions 
throughout the city, and would result in a 


97 


clean-up, with a consequent reduction in the 
fire loss. 

All the newspapers of the city and the 
civic associations should be encouraged to 
create interest in a particular day to be set 
apart as Fire Prevention Day, and on this 
day special exercises should be held in the 
public schools, with lectures and fire scenes 
to interest the children in fire prevention. 
Stories of fires given to the newspapers 
should contain a reference to the causes of 
fire and. the means of prevention, so as to 
keep this subject before the public. 

Fire prevention should be part of the reg¬ 
ular course in the schools, with views of 
conditions, that cause fires, especially care¬ 
lessness with matches, cigars and cigarettes, 
so as to impress this subject on the minds 
of the children when young. Owing to the 
large proportion of foreign element in the 
city, T consider this an especially important 
point. 

It would be advisable to have cards print¬ 
ed in large type containing a list of “Fire 
Don’ts/’ .to be posted in conspicuous places 
in factories, loft buildings and tenement and 
apartment houses, calling attention to the 
numerous little things that cause fires 
through carelessness. 

In conclusion, I would state that if these 
points are covered there will be a large re¬ 
duction in the number of fires, through the 
public having this subject constantly in 
mind. 


Respectfully submitted, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n. 
PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN. 

Fire Department. 

(Special examination.) 

Date: April 29, 1914. 
ADMINISTRATION— Weight 5. 

(Answers by a Company Commander.) 

(To be finished by 1.30 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—There are six five-story apart¬ 
ment houses of identical construction on the 
south side of Dash Street. They are sepa¬ 
rated by twelve-inch party walls and by two 
light courts five feet and eight feet wide re¬ 
spectively. They have unprotected windows 
on both sides. The roofs are tin joisted and 
the cornices are of metal. There are no 
parapets. The stair shaft is constructed of 
one-half inch plaster board nailed on each 
side of wood studding with wooden doors to 
the apartment. The dumbwaiter shaft is con¬ 
structed of three-inch gypsum blocks with 
sub-standard metal-covered doors at open¬ 
ings. The floors are single-joisted from the 
second to the fifth floor and the first floor is 
supported on brick arches concrete filled on 
steel beams. There are three apartments on 
each floor. 


98 


The fire originated in the west apartment 
on the first floor of the second of these six 
apartment houses from the west. You are 
the Captain in command of the first com¬ 
pany to arrive at the fire and you find the 
fire burning throughout the first floor and 
pouring out of the front windows. Upon 
entering the hallway of the building you dis¬ 
cover that the fire has already spread to the 
upper floors and to the first of these six 
apartment houses adjoining the burning 
building on the west. 

There is a high westerly gale blowing and 
there are frozen piles of snow five feet high 
in the gutters of the street, making the cen¬ 
ter of the roadway passable for only one ve¬ 
hicle at a time. The houses are situated 250 
feet from the nearest avenue on the east and 
400 feet from the nearest avenue on the 
west. 

State exactly what action you would take 
as Captain in command of the engine com¬ 
pany first due at this fire, in the order in 
which you would take the action, and gi\*e 
your reasons in full for your answer. 

NOTE:—The foregoing description is that 
of a fire that actually occurred at 124 to 134 
West 134th Street in March, 1914. The an¬ 
swer which follows is based, to a considerable 
extent, upon how the fire was actually fought. 
Although under normal conditions this would 
not have been more than a two-alarm fire; 
four alarms were turned in, due to the im¬ 
passable condition of the streets. Only one 
company of the 4th alarm assignment, how¬ 
ever, did any work. 

ANS.:—Considering the condition of the 
street, I would order Driver or Chauffeur to 
take the sidewalk on the street where the fire 
is located, as quicker time could be made and 
the engine saved from delay. 

I would proceed to nearest hydrant to build¬ 
ing on fire and make a hasty investigation to 
ascertain whether a 2nd or greater alarm was 
required to prevent spreading to adjoining 
P r et ™ SeS ' . Upon finding the fire in possession 
of the stairway and other apartments, I would 
transmit 2nd, 3rd and 4th alarms, in recogni¬ 
tion of the fact that under the weather condi¬ 
tions a 4th alarm would be only equal to a 2nd 
alarm under normal conditions. 

I would order the hydrant connection to be 
made to hydrant and then to eneine. In all 
probability, the large suction would have been 
left in quarters and the apparatus lightened, 
due to weather conditions. This would pre¬ 
vent the using of the large suction. I would, 
therefore, have a 2^-inch line stretched by 
hand, if impossible for the hose wagon to make 
the center of the street, and have a 1^-inch 
nozzle attached to same. Then take line to the 
stairway and have stream directed up the stair- 
way to extinguish as much of the fire as pos- 
smle. Then proceed into apartments on fire 
and get line as near as possible to light courts 
and direct stream through exterior openings 
into adjoining premises. 

I would order the officer of the first-due 
1 ruck Company to divide his company into 
two sections. One section to raise a 30 to 35- 
foot ladder to front of building on fire and 
lower drop-ladder of fire-escape and assist 





the people down the ladders. The other sec¬ 
tion to ventilate by way of adjoining buildings ; 
have them remove skylights and open up bulk¬ 
heads and roof to prevent the fire from mush¬ 
rooming. 

I would order the officer of the Engine Com¬ 
pany second due to stretch a 2j4-inch line to 
stairway where the first Engine Company is 
operating and extinguish any fire that the first 
company may have left behind and to prevent 
the fire from communicating to adjoining 
premises, as that, the leeward, is the most 
dangerous side, the wind being from the west. 

I would have the officer of the third due 
Engine Company to stretch a 2H-inch line to 
building located west of where fire originated, 
and proceed up stairway to the roof, extin¬ 
guishing any fire that might appear. 

I would order the fourth due Engine Com¬ 
pany to stretch a line of 2^-inch hose up the 
front fire escape to leeward side of the build¬ 
ing where the fire originated. 

I would order the second due Truck Com¬ 
pany to divide into two sections: One to pro¬ 
ceed to roof to ventilate for the third due En¬ 
gine Company, and the other to stretch addi¬ 
tional lines to deck pipes and operate same, if 
fire is of such magnitude as to appear at front 
windows. After the first section of the Truck 
Company had ventilated, I would order a 2^- 
inch line stretched to the rear yard by the 
second due Truck Company to wash down 
all flying embers and falling debris that might 
appear in order to keep such out of the cel¬ 
lars. 

In all probability I would be relieved by a 
superior officer by this time. Would state my 
actions to him, informing him where each 
company was placed and how instructed. In 
the meantime I would have transmitted an ac¬ 
count of the fire to Headquarters by phone. 

The second-alarm companies would be used 
to stretch additional lines to front and rear 
fire escapes and also to additional deck pipe, 
and to the roofs of buildings both east and 
west of fire. 

In conclusion, I would state that this fire 
could be handled by a first-alarm assignment, 
but owing to weather conditions, piles of 
snow, etc., it would be advisable to send sec¬ 
ond, third, or even fourth alarms to allow for 
the delays to apparatus in reaching the fire 
and the handicap the men would be under in 
stretching lines through the snow, which could 
be calculated to cause the fire to spread be¬ 
yond what it should under normal conditions. 

NOTE:—There are a number of other 
points which could be covered in this answer, 
but which could hardly be done if the candi¬ 
date hoped to complete his paper within the 
required time. The question requires that ex¬ 
act action be stated and also full reasons given. 
It would require the average Lieutenant at 
least 1 y 2 hours to properly comply with the 
requirements of this one question, and many 
would require two to three hours. Two days 
should have been allowed for the test. 

Ques. 2:—State in general the various 
ways in which an owner and occupant of an 
old building in White Street used for carry¬ 
ing on a large wholesale dry goods business 


can co-operate with the Fire Department to 
prevent fire and promptly discover and ex¬ 
tinguish fire should it occur. 

ANS. :—The various ways in which an own¬ 
er and occupant of such building could co¬ 
operate with the Fire Department are as fol¬ 
lows : 

Install an automatic sprinkler equipment, 
with regulation standpipes with outside Siam¬ 
ese connections, fed either by gravity or pres¬ 
sure tanks. 

Have all exterior openings equipped with 
wire glass and all openings in walls equipped 
with Standard metal-clad doors, so arranged 
that they will close at the melting of the fusi¬ 
ble link, one on each side of the wall. 

Have 2j4-gallon approved fire extinguishers 
according .to floor area; pails of water distrib¬ 
uted throughout floor area; 6-foot hooks and 
6-pound flat-head axes. 

Not to store inflammables too near glass to 
prevent the focussed rays of sun from igniting 
same. Display signs “Smoking Prohibited” 
and insist upon this rule being carried out. 

See that all sweepings and wrappings are 
gathered up every day and placed in some 
place remote from heat or fire, preferably in 
self-closing metal containers. See that all com¬ 
bustible materials are kept away from steam- 
pipes, radiators or stoves. If coal stoves are 
used to heat building, see that the surround¬ 
ings are protected with metal shields or asbes¬ 
tos. If pipes pass through partitions or floors, 
see that they are properly fire-stopped. Be 
careful of condition of packing department 
and of oils or any explosives. 

If gas is used for illuminating purposes, 
globes or wire nets should be provided to pro¬ 
tect lights, and all combustible materials 
should be kept a safe distance from same. Only 
safety matches should be used. 

If electricity is used, see that the installa¬ 
tion is in accordance with the Electrical Code. 
Comply with all orders, whether verbal or 
written, issued by the Fire Department, Build¬ 
ing Department and the State Factory In¬ 
vestigating Bureau. 

A watchman should be employed, and build¬ 
ing equipped with time detectors on which to 
register his rounds. Equip building with a 
system of thermostats. 

See that there is proper provision for exit in 
case of fire. 

If possible, the building should be equipped 
with a sprinkler system. Such a building 
should have every modern equipment, because 
the hazard is so great, but on account of be¬ 
ing an old building it would be useless to ex¬ 
pect him voluntarily to spend large sums of 
money. 

Ques. 3:—Explain how, in a burning build¬ 
ing, each of the following should be done, 
noting the danger to be guarded against in 
each case, as well as the method and tools 
to be employed: 

Opening iron shutters. 

Breaking glass windows. 

Removing window sashes and cutting out 
window frames. 

Opening locked windows. 

Working on a snow-covered roof. 


r 


Cutting through timbers. 

Breaking through double flooring. 

Removing roof cornices. 

Removing corrugated iron ceilings. 

Directing a stream among electric wires. 

Explain how you would meet and over¬ 
come dangers due to back-draughts, point¬ 
ing out the nature, duration and causes of 
such dangers. How would you judge that 
the wall of a burning building was becoming 
dangerous? How should “overhauling” or 
pulling down burned material be done? 
How would you attack a fire well under 
way in a lumber yard? In each case explain 
as fully as you can, indicating what dangers 
you would anticipate, and what you would 
do to avoid or protect yourself and men 
from them. 

NOTE:—This question asks for entirely too 
much. It calls for an explanation of the use 
of nearly every tool in the Department, and 
then by way of good measure asks four ques¬ 
tions on which a book could be written, even 
requesting that each be explained “as fully as 
you can”—in other words, write a book. 

ANS.:—Tools to be used to open iron 
shutters: A claw-tool, axe, hook, and lad¬ 
ders. 

Raise ladder to desired height and insert 
the claw of claw-tool underneath iron shut¬ 
ter between the coping and shutter, and then 
raise claw-tool high enough to relieve shutter 
of its hold. Sometimes a blow from the axe 
will spring it open, but great care should be 
taken that the shutter does not strike the man 
holding the claw-tool. 

Shutters can be opened by inserting finger 
in the holes and relieving them of their hold. 

Also by proceeding to the roof with a hook 
and axe and taking the curved part of hook 
and catching it on the steel part of hinge 
which overlaps shutter, and raising it high 
enough to relieve it of its hold; then striking 
same with an axe, which will cause it to spring 
open. Care should be taken that no persons 
are underneath same. 

Shutters may be opened by streams of wa¬ 
ter, provided that they are warped and buckled 
from the heat. As soon as the cold water 
strikes same it causes contraction and allows 
them to spring open. 

The great dangers from the above are fall¬ 
ing shutters. In opening shutters great care 
should be taken that no persons are under¬ 
neath ; also that men are not thrown off lad¬ 
ders by back-draught and carelessness in drop¬ 
ping tools. 

Breaking glass windows.—The tools em¬ 
ployed are hooks, axes, claw-tool and lad¬ 
ders. 

In breaking glass windows great care should 
be taken about persons underneath same, as 
serious accidents have occurred at fires from 
this cause. The way to break glass is to strike 
it hard enough until it breaks or cracks. Some¬ 
times it can then be taken out by hand in large 
pieces. Great care should be taken in hand¬ 
ling glass to avoid being cut. In breaking large 
plate glass windows it is not advisable to break 
all of the glass unless the fire is of such mag¬ 
nitude as to warrant it. Sometimes a small 
hole can be made in top of same with hook. 


If heavy plate glass, and the fire warrants the 
breaking of it, use a ladder, being careful that 
no persons are underneath same. 

Wire glass can be broken with a hook, axe, 
claw-tool or ladder. If a ladder is used it 
should be taken about 5 to 10 feet from 
window and allowed to fall against the win¬ 
dow and frame. The weight of ladder will 
cause same to break. This also applies to 
aerial ladder, by raising bed ladder and fly 
ladder, and the weight of same will cause the 
glass to break. The goose-neck part of a 
scaling ladder can also be used to advantage. 
Streams of water have been known to break 
glass. 

The greatest danger from breaking glass 
windows is the broken glass coming in con¬ 
tact with the person, cutting him, and the fine 
slivers being caught in the hose, and when 
hose is handled it frequently gets into Fire¬ 
men’s hands. 

Removing window sashes and cutting out 
window frames.—Tools necessary are axe, 
hook and claw-tool. 

How used: Cut frame on a bias and then 
insert the claw part of claw-tool underneath 
frame between bottom and brick work, and 
pry loose. Then the whole frame can be 
loosened, either with a hook at top of frame 
and pull in towards the inside of building, or 
by inserting claw of claw-tool between frame 
and brick work and pry loose. Then lift it 
out. An axe would be used to cut the cords 
of weights, and then weights should be taken 
out. 

The dangers from the above are: Persons 
being injured from falling parts, especially 
the weights; parts of wood or splinters getting 
into Firemen’s hands. " 

Opening locked windows.—Tools neces¬ 
sary are axe, claw-tool, hook and ladders. 

How used: Insert blade of axe underneath 
lower part of window and then spring it open. 
Or use claw part of claw-tool and pry open 
with weight on end of same. Sometimes it 
is necessary to break such windows. Then 
a hole should be made with hook or claw-tool 
near the catch of window and then opened by 
hand. If ladders are used they should be used 
as previously stated for breaking glass win¬ 
dows. The same dangers apply to locked 
windows as breaking glass windows. 

Working on a snow-covered roof.—Tools 
necessary are: Roof rope, tin cutter, shov- 
els, axe, hook, claw-tools and ladders. 

If roof required cutting up, a ladder should 
be raised to desired height and snow removed 
with shovels, care being taken where snow is 
thrown and that persons are not underneath 
same. Then a tin-cutter used by inserting 
sharp part into tin and then cut at desired point 
and pulled up with a hook or the hook part 
of claw-tools. Axe is used to cut roof beams 
and claw-tools are used to pry open boards. 
If roof is to be used to place lines into posi¬ 
tion, great care and sound judgment should 
be used by officers to see that the lines are 
properly fastened with roof ropes around 
chimneys, or beams to prevent any back-pres¬ 
sure on line, which may cause a loss of life or 
serious injury to Firemen. 

The great dangers are the snow thrown 


100 



around where men are working; the roof be¬ 
ing slippery may cause serious injury or per¬ 
sons be killed; the weakness of the roof itself, 
by having too much weight on same together 
with the snow. 

Cutting through timbers.—Tools neces¬ 
sary are saws, axes, claw-tools and hooks; 
also ladders and roof ropes. 

Manner in which they should be used: If a 
ladder is required, raise to desired height and 
then cut timber with an axe or saw, being 
careful not to stand on part you are cutting. 
Then pry the timber loose with a claw-tool by 
inserting the claw of tool between part cut. Or 
a roof rope can be used by tieing same around 
the timber, and when partly cut have men pull 
on rope and it will break. Hooks can be used 
to loosen same or break apart. 

The dangers are: Men standing on the 
part that is to be cut, falling parts, and care¬ 
less manner in handling same. 

Breaking through double flooring.—The 
tools necessary are: Axe, shovel, maul, 
chisel and battering ram. 

How used: An axe to cut flooring; shovel 
to remove cinder concrete; maul and chisel to 
loosen concrete, and battering ram to loosen 
the keystone and knock same out. 

The dangers are: The weakening of the 
floor itself and careless manner in handling 
tools. 

Removing roof cornices.—Tools are: Tin- 
cutter, axe, hook and claw-tool. 

How used: Tin-cutter to cut tin; claw part 
of claw-tool to loosen same; hook to pull tin 
apart. Great care should be taken that no 
persons are underneath same. 

The great dangers are: The cornice falling, 
or parts of tin. If a roof rope could be fas¬ 
tened around same it would prevent this, but it 
is very difficult to do this; also Firemen being 
cut from sharp tin. 

Removing corrugated iron ceilings.— 

Tools necessary are claw-tools, hooks and 
axes. Battering rams may also be used. 

How used: Claw-tool to pry corrugated 
iron loose, or an axe to make an opening in 
same; hook to pull apart. The claw part of 
claw-tool can be inserted underneath the bot¬ 
tom flange and then pried loose. 

The dangers are the same as given in the 
foregoing for removing roof cornices. 

Directing a stream among electric wires.— 
Tools necessary are: Try to cut same with 
wire-cutter and rubber gloves; ladder to 
reach desired height. If impossible to cut, 
order Pipemen to hold line by the rubber 
part, as water is a conductor of electricity 
and rubber is a non-conductor; therefore 
you prevent shock and danger. If working 
from elevated structure, the line could be 
lashed around an iron column with a roof 
rope, and the current would then be ground¬ 
ed in the column. 

Back draughts are due to the release of 
an accumulation of gases due to lack of ven¬ 
tilation and confined in a closed room or 
vessel. As soon as the building is ventilated 
the outer air mixing with the gases will 
cause an explosion, rush or back draught. 
The only thing to be done in these cases is 
to lie as low as possible and let the explo¬ 


sion go over your head, as the air being 
lighter than these gases will cause the com¬ 
bustion to rise. It is very hard to judge 
just when this explosion will occur. The 
duration is only a few moments. It would 
also depend on what kind of a fire was 
burning and how long confined. 

To judge whether the wall of a burning 
building is becoming dangerous.—If there 
are signs of smoke or water issuing through 
the crevices of the brick work it is a very 
bad sign that the burning wall is weak; also 
if wall was weakened in any manner by 
large openings rendered by explosions, etc., 
causing the wall to sway by wind currents. 
Sometimes a heavy stream of water will 
weaken a wall, causing brickwork to loosen. 

How overhauling or pulling down of 
burned material should be done.—Tools 
necessary are: Hooks, axes, claw-tools and 
shovels. 

The overhauling of burned materials should 
be done in a very careful manner; only the 
parts that are burned. If ceilings or partitions, 
insert hooks and make hole large enough, and 
pull down lath and plaster. Partitions, by us¬ 
ing an axe and then the claw-tool, and work 
back until there are no more signs of burned 
particles. Tin ceilings should be pulled down 
with hooks until there are no more signs of 
burned particles. 

In overhauling tenement house fires, be care¬ 
ful about throwing articles out of windows. 
Burned mattresses should be thoroughly over¬ 
hauled before throwing out of windows, and 
all loose parts extinguished by pails of water. 
If clothing, fill washing tubs with water and 
dip burned materials in same. The combust¬ 
ible part of furniture can be pulled apart and 
thrown away; save as much of the wooden 
parts as possible. 

In large loft buildings it is very often nec¬ 
essary to use axes and claw-tools to chop up 
floors, etc. Always have a clear space to work 
in. Remove the materials that are not burned 
to one side of loft, and procure large cans and 
have same filled with water. Then dip burned 
materials in same and lay to one side, being 
careful not to handle the same material over 
again. Woolen or dry goods should be thor¬ 
oughly examined and only the parts that are 
burned dipped into cans of water and then 
laid to one side. 

How to attack a fire well under way in a 
lumber yard.—It is always best to attack 
any fire to the leeward side with streams of 
water. If near a river I would have fire- 
boats bring lines into play and if possible 
use turret nozzles, monitor nozzles and 
deck pipes. Have land companies try to 
keep fire from spreading by surrounding it 
with streams of water. Truck companies 
would be utilized to do the overhauling of 
the lumber. 

The dangers are of the fire spreading un¬ 
seen between the piles of lumber. It is very 
often necessary to overhaul a large pile of 
lumber to extinguish a small spark. This kind 
of fires burn with intense heat and great 
rapidity, and you have to look out that your 
men are not cut off. Always be sure that 
they have a retreat in case fire shows signs 


101 


of spreading quickly. Always be careful when 
working on piles of lumber, or when loose, 
as a mis-step often loosens other parts of the 
pile and you might get buried under. 

Ques. 4:—On a certain uptown avenue, 
through which an elevated railroad and a 
surface trolley line are operated, there are 
several five-story brick tenements. In the 
rear are two frame buildings occupied by 
families. Access to these houses is gained 
by means of an archway running through 
one of the tenements. On the block are a 
saloon, a drug store, a paint shop, a gro¬ 
cery store and a moving picture show. The 
sidewalks are usually crowded in the earlier 
hours of the night. About 9 o’clock, on a 
cold winter’s evening, a fire breaks out in 
one of the frame houses, and you and your 
company respond to the call. Give a full 
account of your action under such circum¬ 
stances, and state also what should be done 
by the Police in co-operation with you. 

ANS.:—As company commander of the first 
company to arrive at the above fire, I would 
immediately investigate the fire, and if condi¬ 
tions warranted it, I would order a 2}4-inch 
line stretched to seat of fire; or if apparatus 
was equipped with a chemical line, order the 
chemical line stretched to building on fire, 
backed up with a larger line to prevent fire 
from spreading. If working a 2 ^ 2 -inch line, 
would be very careful about using too much 
water. A 24-inch, or smaller, tip should be 
used on all small fires, especially when work¬ 
ing inside of buildings. 

I would immediately send a member of the 
company to the moving picture show house, 
with instructions to make a tactful announce¬ 
ment to the audience and empty the theater. I 
would instruct him to say something like this: 

“There is a small fire in the block and the 
smoke may make it uncomfortable for you to 
remain here. Be kind enough to leave by the 
exit nearest your seat. Do not obstruct the 
street in any manner. Take it easy; don’t 
crowd; there is no danger.” 

Then make sure that they are led away 
from the fire by the ushers, etc. The officer 
of the truck company first due would raise the 
necessary ladders, effect entrances, and ven¬ 
tilate building on fire by removing all scuttles 
over fire, also closing windows of floors be¬ 
low fire to prevent same from lapping in. 

Would order the officer of company to send 
a man to the tenements and close windows in 
rear, for the same purpose. 

It would hardly be necessary to use more 
than a one-engine company and one truck 
company at a fire of this kind, but the owner 
of second truck company would do the neces¬ 
sary examining to find out if fire has spread 
through pipe recesses, vertical openings, 
shafts, partitions, hanging ceilings, etc. Also 
assist people to safety and prevent panic of 
the occupants. 

If necessary to stretch a line of hose across 
the railroad tracks, a danger signal would be 
displayed at a distance not less than 100 
yards from the fire, using two globe hand lan¬ 
terns with red glass. 

If there was any danger of fire spreading to 


the paint and drug stores, send additional 
alarms. 

The Police would co-operate by forming 
fire lines, arresting all suspicious-looking per¬ 
sons loitering in and about the fire, persons 
stealing or attempting to steal articles from 
premises, preventing a panic by seeing that 
the occupants of the moving picture, theater 
were led away and not permitted to loiter, and 
if conditions warranted, the Police would 
empty any surrounding buildings of their oc¬ 
cupants. 

Ques. 5:—There is a four-story building 
located in your district occupied as follows: 

(1) First floor and cellar by a druggist; 
the cellar is used as a storage place for 
chemicals, some of which consist of car¬ 
boys of nitric and sulphuric acid. 

(2) The second floor is occupied by a fur¬ 
rier for the purpose of converting the raw 
material into the finished product. 

(3) The third floor is used for the manu¬ 
facture of celluloid articles. 

(4) On the fourth floor is a lithographing 
establishment. 

(a) Point out the fire dangers likely to be 
encountered in case of a fire in the above 
building. 

(b) If a fire should occur in the drug store 
of the building described above and your 
company was the first to arrive, what meas¬ 
ures would you adopt to extinguish the fire? 
Answer fully. 

ANS.:—(a) The fire dangers likely to be 
encountered are as follows: 

The fumes from the nitric and sulphuric 
acid are of a poisonous nature. They are very 
difficult to destroy with water, and when the 
acids come in contact with any combustible 
material they cause it to fire at once. If al¬ 
lowed to come in contact with the person it 
will burn through the clothing and burn the 
flesh severely. 

The close proximity of one chemical to an¬ 
other may cause an explosion, especially when 
the receptacle is heated to such a degree as to 
cause it to melt; or cold water coming in 
contact with hot glass will cause it to burst. 

The second floor is occupied by a furrier for 
the purpose of converting the raw material 
into the finished product. The fire danger 
would be the shoddy, causing the fire to 
spread very quickly. The material itself is 
subject to spontaneous combustion when in a 
raw state. It will burn with great rapidity 
and intense heat. The chemicals used for cur¬ 
ing and dressing are of a hazardous nature. 

Celluloid will reach the highest inflamma¬ 
ble point before it will explode, but it will ig¬ 
nite more readily than any other material 
known. It spreads with great rapidity and in¬ 
tense heat. It has been known to become ex¬ 
plosive and cause walls and floors to collapse. 
Owing to the above considerations, it cannot 
be fought at close range. The raw material 
is subject to ignition at a very low flash-point 
especially if any small metal parts happen to 
be collected in them, and passing through the 
machinery may cause same to ignite. 


In the lithographing establishment the ben¬ 
zine which is used to clean the rollers and ink 
plates is very dangerous. The rags used to 
clean the benzine off the rollers and ink plates, 
known as benzine rags, are subject to spon¬ 
taneous ignition. Kerosene oil is used in some 
establishments, but not as frequently as ben¬ 
zine. 

Lye is used for cleaning purposes, especially 
for cleaning types, and when in contact with 
water it emits a poisonous gas. 

Linseed oil is used a great deal, and it is 
subject to spontaneous ignition. Paper is usu¬ 
ally stored in quantities. 

(b) As Company Commander and being first 
to arrive at the above fire, I would make a 
hasty investigation and locate the fire, and 
take particular note of the acids and chemicals 
stored in close proximity. If possible, I would 
extinguish the fire with a chemical line. If ap¬ 
paratus was not equipped with chemical line 
would order a 2j4-inch line with a l^-inch 
controlling nozzle stretched to entrance lead¬ 
ing to cellar, and give the pipeman instructions 
to be careful about using water, in order to 
prevent the acids or chemicals from being 
scattered about. The carboys of nitric and 
sulphuric acid should be allowed to burn 
themselves out, and hand extinguishers should 
be brought into play and wet the surrounding 
materials in order to prevent the fire from 
spreading. 

When bottles are heated to such a degree 
as to cause danger of bursting, water should 
be used only in small sprays, just enough to 
cool them off. 

A second line could be stretched into the 
store and used to prevent the fire from getting 
above cellar. 

The officer of the first-due truck company 
would do the necessary ventilating and over¬ 
hauling, being careful about handling the car¬ 
boys of acid, also chemicals, etc. It is best 
to handle such carboys with metal tongs in 
order to prevent the acid from coming in 
contact with your flesh or clothing. 

A fire of this kind could be handled by one 
engine company stretching two lines, and one 
hook and ladder company. As soon as my. su¬ 
perior arrived I would state the conditions 
to him; also notify Headquarters by telephone 
how many companies at work, location of 
building, kind, size, and occupancy and occu¬ 
pied by druggist. 

Ques. 6:—Your company is called to fight 
a fire in a 14-story factory and office build¬ 
ing which started on the 10th floor and is 
rapidly making its way to the roof. You 
are directed to co-operate with another com¬ 
pany, proceed to the roof of a 12-story build¬ 
ing opposite and across a 60-foot street, 
and Siamese the two companies in the best 
way to get a single effective stream. There 
is a hydrant 100 feet and another 300 feet 
distant from the standpipe in the 12-story 
building. Explain how you would locate 
the two engines, lay and connect the hose, 
what tools, fittings and nozzle you would 
use, what pressure you would order at each 
engine to secure 100 pounds pressure at the 
nozzle. Give all the figures used to obtain 


your results, supposing first that 3-inch hose 
is used, and, secondly, that 254 -inch hose is 
used, and show the loss of pressure along 
the line from the hydrant to nozzle. Use a 
diagram if you wish. 

(NOTE:—This is another example of 
asking entirely too much in a limited period 
of time. The answer which will follow will 
be about 2,000 words long (equal to 1 2-3 news¬ 
paper columns). A facile newspaper reporter, 
writing ordinary news, is considered to be do¬ 
ing rapid work if he turns out l l / 2 columns of 
“copy” in V/ 2 hours. Three hours would be 
good time for a 2,000-word answer to a tech¬ 
nical problem of this kind. Two questions like 
this would be sufficient to ask for an entire 
day’s session.) 

ANS.:—The two companies would proceed 
to the roof of 12-story building. Assuming 12 
feet to a floor, the building is 148 feet high. 
They would take with them 3 lengths of 3- 
inch hose, 2 increasers 254x3 inches, 1 Siam¬ 
ese connection 3x3 inches, 1 open smooth-bore 
nozzle 3x1^4 inches, and 1 Paradox or Eureka 
pipeholder. 

On the way to the roof the men would see 
that all outlets on the standpipe were tightly 
closed, to prevent leakage and loss of pressure. 

One company to remove house line from 
12th floor outlet. This is done because the 
house lines are inefficient to withstand heavy 
pressure. Attach increaser 2*4x3 inches to 
12th floor and roof outlet, and connect the 50- 
foot length of 3-inch hose to the 12th floor out¬ 
let and roof outlet. These two lengths of 50- 
. foot 3-inch hose to be connected to the inlet 
of the Siamese connection, the Siamese con¬ 
nection to be placed in proper position with 
“mark of stars” on top and clapper valves 
working upwards. Attach 50-foot 3-inch lead 
lines to outlet of Siamese connection and a 3- 
1 24 smooth-bore open nozzle attached to male 
butt of 3-inch lead line. A Paradox or Eu¬ 
reka pipe-holder may be used, with lead line 
properly fastened to holder, and the nozzle 
to be elevated at an angle proper for effective 
work. 

’One company would stretch 350 feet and 150 
feet of 3-inch hose from each hydrant to the 
outside Siamese connection in front of build¬ 
ing 148 feet high. 

(NOTE:—The reason an extra length of 
3-inch hose is added to each line in the street 
is to allow for connections, bends, etc. Hose 
can rarely be stretched straight. If engines, 
water towers or deck pipes were used this 
extra length of hose would facilitate moving 
a piece of apparatus, without shutting off the 
lines to add additional lines. This completes 
the operation.) 

With all 3-inch hose 124-inch nozzle X fl¬ 
inch X 29.7 X square root of 100 pounds pres¬ 
sure at nozzle. = 560 gallons of water dis¬ 
charged per minute at nozzle. 

560 gallons of water are discharged per min¬ 
ute in 50-foot lead line of 3-inch hose. 

One-half of 560 gallons = 280 gallons of 
water are discharged per minute through each 
50 feet of 3-inch hose leading to Siamese con¬ 
nection. 


103 


560 gallons of water are discharged per min¬ 
ute through the Siamese connection. 

280 gallons of water are discharged per min¬ 
ute through each outlet of standpipe (roof 
outlet and 12th floor outlet). 

560 gallons of water are discharged per min¬ 
ute through the 4-inch standpipe (Building 
Code requires all buildings under 150 feet high 
to have a 4-inch standpipe). 

Assuming each line in the street to be dis¬ 
charging 280 gallons of water per minute, this 
is only a theoretical discharge of water in lines 
leading from hydrants to the outside Siamese 
connection of building 148 feet high. 

Total friction loss when using all 3-inch 
hose: 

Nozzle pressure.100 lbs. 

50 ft., 3-inch hose discharging 560 

gallons. 13.3 lbs. 

Siamese connection (approximately) 5.0 lbs. 

50 ft., 3-inch hose discharging 280 

gallons . 3.6 lbs. 

Loss due to 148-foot elevation X 

1.434 lbs. 64.2 lbs. 

Loss in entry, swing check, outlets, 
bends, elbows, etc. (approximately) 25.0 lbs. 


y 2 of 460 gallons = 230 gallons of water 
discharged per minute in each 50 feet of 254- 
inch hose leading out of roof outlet and 12th 


floor outlet. 

460 gallons of water is discharged per min¬ 
ute through a 4-inch standpipe. 

Assuming 230 gallons of water discharged 
per minute through each line from hydrant 
to outside Siamese connection in front of 
building 148 feet high (this is only a theoret¬ 
ical dischargee). 

Total friction loss in pounds per square inch 
when using all 254-inch hose: 


Nozzle pressure .100 lbs. 

50 ft., 254-in. hose, 460 gallons per 
minute. 23.4 lbs. 

254 X 254 Siamese connection, 460 
gallons per minute (approximate¬ 
ly) . 5.0 lbs. 

50 ft., 254-in. hose, 230 gallons per 
minute. 6.4 lbs. 

Loss due to 148 ft. elevation = 148 ft. 

X .434 lbs. = .. 64.2 lbs. 

Loss in entry, swing check, outlets, 
bends, elbows, etc. (approximate¬ 
ly) . 25.0 lbs. 


211.1 lbs. 

Pressure per square inch at outside 
Siamese 350 ft., 3-inch hose, and 
assuming a discharge of 280 gal¬ 
lons = . 25.2 lbs. 

236.3 lbs. 

pressure per square inch on engine 350 feet 
away. 

Pressure per square inch at outside 


Siamese.211.1 lbs. 

150 ft., 3-inch hose and assuming a 
discharge of 280 gallons . 10.8 lbs. 


221.9 lbs. 

or 222 lbs. pressure per square inch on hydrant 
150 feet away. 

Answer, 236 pounds pressure on hydrant 350 
feet away, and 222 pounds pressure on hy¬ 
drant 150 feet away (approximately). 

NOTE:—The friction loss in 148 feet of 4- 
inch standpipe at 560 gallons flow is 64 pounds. 
The building should be equipped with a 6-inch 
standpipe. This is why the New York Board 
of Fire Underwriters recommend all buildings 
to be equipped with 6-inch standpipe, and this 
was also proven at the Equitable Fire. The 
streams taken off the 4-inch standpipes were 
inefficient. 

The same operation would be done when us¬ 
ing all 254-inch hose, only a 254-inch Siamese 
connection would be used on the roof and no 
increasers would be necessary from the stand¬ 
pipe outlets. Increasers would be necessary 
when connecting the two 254-inch lines into 
the outside Siamese connection (254 X 3-inch) 
which is 3 inches. 

154-inch nozzle X 154-inch X 29.7 
X square root of 100-lbs. nozzle pressure = 
460 gallons discharged per minute through a 
I54 _ i n ch nozzle. 

460 gallons of water is discharged per min¬ 
ute in 50 feet of 254-inch hose (lead line). 


224.0 lbs. 

Pressure per square inch at outside 
Siamese connection: 

350 ft., 254-in. hose with a theoretical 
discharge of 230 gals, per min.44.8 lbs. 

268.8 lbs. 

or 269 lbs. pressure per square inch on hy¬ 
drant 350 feet away. 

Pressure per square inch on outside 
Siamese connection .236 lbs. 

150 ft., 254-in. hose with a theoret¬ 
ical discharge of 230 gallons. 19.2 lbs. 


255.2 lbs. 

pressure per square inch on hydrant 150 feet 
away. 

It can readily be seen that by using all 3-inch 
hose the pressure is reduced more than if any 
other size hose was used. 

If this question was answered by the meth¬ 
od as taught at the Fire College the pressure 
would be so great at the hydrants that it would 
be an impossibility to deliver the amount of 
water required at the nozzle. 

The method taught at the Fire College is 
to connect 4 lines of 254-inch hose off the 10th, 
11th, 12th and roof outlet, concentrate these 4 
lines into 2 lines by using Siamese connections 
254 X 3-inch, and use two lines of 3-inch 
hose from each outlet of the Siamese connec¬ 
tion; Siamese the two 3-inch lines into one 
Siamese connection with a 50-foot length of 
3-inch hose with an 3 X 124-inch nozzle, and 
Paradox pipe holder. 

This method would require 5 lengths of 
2X-inch hose, 3 Siamese connections, 3 lengths 
of 3-inch hose. The other method requires 
only 3 lengths of 3-inch hose and 1 Siamese 
connection, and the friction loss is reduced by 
using method as answered rather than meth¬ 
od taught at the Fire College. 


104 




















The lines could also be put in operation 
more quickly, as 3 lengths of hose could be 
stretched more quickly than 8 lengths. 

(NOTE:—The following answer is by an 
officer whose method differs somewhat from 
the one who wrote the answer to this ques¬ 
tion already published. This second answer is 
by one who was an Engineer for many years 
before being promoted.) 

ANS.:—In the answer previously published 
there was calculated 1 length of hose from the 
12th floor and roof outlets^ 1 Siamese con¬ 
nection and a leadline, assuming that the build¬ 
ing was so equipped. If not so equipped, it 
would be necessary to use the 11th floor out¬ 
let, with 3 and 254-inch hose. 

But a more practical way would be to stretch 
lines of hose from the outlets of the upper 4 
stories, which would give a better supply of 
water and a more effective stream, with a3^- 
inch smooth-bore open nozzle. This opera¬ 
tion would require 7 lengths of hose and 3 
Siamese connections, and when connected up 
a pipe holder properly attached. 

The question states to figure both 3 and 2J4- 
inch hose, and it is advisable to use in both 
operations 3-inch hose from the hydrants to 
the Siamese connection, for if 234-inch hose 
were used in the street you would have too 
great a friction loss, and much back-pressure 
on the engine, considering the long stretch, 
and you would hardly get 100 pounds at the 
nozzle, and with the above operation you 
would be dischraging 560 gallons of water at 
the nozzle. 


Friction loss. 

100 ft., 3-inch hose . 8 lbs. 

Standpipe .•• 64 J^s. 

1 length on upper 4 floors with 140 gals. 4 lbs. 

2 lengths with 280 gallons. 7 lbs. 

Leadline with 560 gallons. 12 lbs. 

Entry check valves, etc. 25 lbs. 

Nozzle pressure .10b lbs. 


220 lbs. 

on engine 100 feet from hydrant. At engine 
30 feet away, 236 pounds. 

In the second operation I would use 254- 
inch hose, one length from each of the upper 
4 outlets on the standpipe; and 3-inch hose, 1 
length from each Siamese, with a 3-inch length 
as a leadline. 


Friction loss. 

100 ft., 3-inch hose . 8 lbs. 

Standpipes . 64 lbs - 

4 lengths, 254 -inch hose, one from 

each outlet with 140 gals.•• 10.5 lbs. 

2 lengths, 3-inch hose, with 280 gals. 7 lbs. 

Leadline 3-inch hose, with 560 gals. 12 lbs. 

Entry, checks Siamese, etc. 25 lbs. 

Nozzle pressure .100 lbs. 


At engine 100 feet away 
At engine 300 feet away 


226.5 lbs. 

242.5 lbs. 


It can readily be seen that you would get 
much better results by having about 75 pounds 
nozzle pressure and discharging about 400 
gallons per minute, and there would be less 
friction and back-pressure on the engines, 
with a greater volume of water; and it would 
also reach the fire effectively, all the way from 
82 to 84 feet horizontally, and would be per¬ 
forming effective work. 

Ques. 7:—While you are acting as Cap¬ 
tain, the following matters arise for ac¬ 
tion: 

(a) A blasting company is reported to be 
handling and storing dangerous explosives 
in a careless and reckless manner. 

(b) Several citizens complain that unnec¬ 
essary noise is made by your company in 
blowing whistles and clanging bells in re¬ 
turning from alarms to which they have re¬ 
sponded. 

(c) Inspectors report that a garment fac¬ 
tory, where many girls and women are em¬ 
ployed, is not provided with proper exits 
and fire escapes. 

(d) A building is in process of erection, in 
the plans of which several violations affect¬ 
ing safety from fire risk are reported to ex¬ 
ist. 

(e) Several fires, believed to be of incen¬ 
diary origin, have recently occurred and a 
citizen enters a complaint that your official 
conduct is at fault. 

Explain how you would deal with each 
matter. 

ANS.:—(a) Obtain the name of the person 
making the complaint, and make an entry of 
same in company journal. Immediately notify 
the Chief of Battalion, who in all probability 
would detail another officer to relieve me while 
I made a personal investigation. I would see 
the magazine keeper and the blaster; see that 
they had a permit and a certificate of fitness; 
that the permit was issued for the current 
year, and that the amount of explosives were 
stored in compliance with the permit; that the 
magazine was of the kind and class as stated 
in permit and constructed of fireproof mate¬ 
rial. 

If an over-storage of dynamite was discov¬ 
ered, would immediately have the magazine 
locked, take possession of the key and re¬ 
tain it until the arrival of an Inspector from 
the Division of Combustibles, which Division 
would be promptly notified. 

If in my judgment the blasting company 
was handling and storing any dangerous ex¬ 
plosives in a careless and reckless manner, I 
would notify the foreman to stop all opera¬ 
tions, and call a Patrolman, informing him 
that John Doe was making a complaint against 
the blasting company for careless and reck¬ 
less handling and storing of explosives, and 
that I would be a witness in court. 

Upon my return to quarters, I would make 
entry of same in company journal and for¬ 
ward a report through the regular channels to 
the Chief of Department. 

(b) If the complaint was made to the 
Chief of Department, he would entertain it if 


105 
















it was made by apparently responsible citi¬ 
zens, and he would send a statement of the 
complaint, through regular channels, to the 
Commanding Officer of the company com¬ 
plained of. I would make a thorough investi¬ 
gation and report back the result. In case 1 
found that the complaint was justified, I would 
also prefer charges against the offenders and 
send it along with the report. I would ascer¬ 
tain, if possible, whether the alleged noisiness 
occurred at dangerous crossings, or when pass¬ 
ing schools, hospitals, and churches and the¬ 
aters while in session, as it is permissible to 
blow whistles at dangerous crossings, but not 
while passing the institutions mentioned. 

If the complaint were made to me at com¬ 
pany quarters, I would question the citizens 
and take note of all their statements, enter 
same in the journal, and then follow the same 
procedure as mentioned. I would also ex¬ 
plain to the complainants the rules. Such 
blowing of whistles could occur only with the 
knowledge of myself or the Lieutenant, and 
as I would know whether or not I permitted 
it, there would only remain to ascertain wheth¬ 
er the Lieutenant permitted it. 

I would also warn my men to avoid, if pos¬ 
sible, anything to bring on such complaints. 

(c) The question does not state from 
which department the Inspectors are mak¬ 
ing the complaint. It would be my duty 
to obtain their names and the department 
from which they are employed, and make 
an entry of same in company journal. 

If the Inspector was from the Labor De¬ 
partment, and after making a personal in¬ 
vestigation and finding such conditions pre¬ 
vailing, I would forward a report through 
the regular channels to the Chief of Depart¬ 
ment, as a “dangerous condition,” as the 
means of proper exits and fire escapes in 
factories are covered by the Labor Law. 

If the Inspector was from the Fire Pre¬ 
vention Bureau, would do the same as stated 
above. 

If the Inspector was a member under my 
command, I would make a personal inves¬ 
tigation, as Commanding Officers of com¬ 
panies are responsible for all buildings in 
their company districts. 

If upon my investigation I found the 
above conditions to exist, I would make 
proper entry of same in company journal 
and forward a report through regular chan¬ 
nels, as stated above. 

(NOTE:—This question was probably 
taken from the latest amendments to the 
Greater New York Charter, which reads: 
“Section 774.—The Fire Commissioner is 
empowered to enforce all laws and ordi¬ 
nances and the rules and regulations of the 
Industrial Board of the Department of La¬ 
bor in respect of the means and adequacy of 
exit in case of fire in and from all build¬ 
ings, structures, inclosures, vessels, places 
and premises in which number of persons 
work, live or congregate, from time to time 
for any purpose, except tenement houses 
and except factories as defined by the Labor 
Law.) 


(d) The question states that a building is 
in process of erection in the plans of which 
several violations affecting safety from fire 
risks are reported to exist. Before a build¬ 
ing can be constructed the plans are filed 
with the Building Department, and they 
must be approved by the Building Depart¬ 
ment. So this part of the question would 
be up to the Building Inspector for allowing 
the building to be so constructed. 

I would procure name of person making 
the report aryl make entries as stated pre¬ 
viously, and make a personal investigation. 

Upon finding the conditions existing 
would notify the Building Department 
through official channels, and forward a sep¬ 
arate, detailed report through regular chan¬ 
nels to the Chief of Department on each 
unsafe building, stating violations of laws 
and ordinances, giving section covering each 
violation, date of the erection, etc., and en¬ 
dorse the street and number on the back of 
the report, making proper entries of same 
in Building Record Journal or on card sys¬ 
tem. 

(NOTE:—These conditions would hardly 
obtain if the Building Department exam¬ 
ined and approved the plans.) 

(e) If the citizen complained at the Fire 
House, I would get his name and address, 
and all the facts from him, and inquire up¬ 
on what information he based his com¬ 
plaint. 

If he complained at Fire Headquarters, 
the Chief of Department would take his 
complaint and send an official communica¬ 
tion through the proper channels to the 
Commanding Officer of the Company, prob¬ 
ably with instructions to forward to the 
Chief of Department a report upon the 
same. 

If I had any fires recently that were of 
incendiary or suspicious origin, I would 
have forwarded a report to the Chief of De¬ 
partment and I would have duplicates in 
quarters by which I could show that I took 
all the means necessary to detect incendiar¬ 
ies and endeavored to obtain legal evidence 
to convict the guilty parties. 

I would also have detailed a Fireman at 
these fires to see that none of the condi¬ 
tions were disturbed and would have in¬ 
formed him to act quietly and carefully with 
a view to obtaining proper and reliable evi¬ 
dence, and for "him not to express his opin¬ 
ion of the circumstances, and to remain un¬ 
til the arrival of the Fire Marshal, for whom 
I would have telephoned. 

After thoroughly investigating all the 
facts and circumstances, I would forward a 
report to the Chief of Department, through 
the regular channels, stating all the facts 
and my actions in reference to the fires 
complained of, with my answer concerning 
them, and if there was any evidence of neg¬ 
lect, misconduct or inefficiency upon my 
part, the Chief of Department would take 
action by having charges preferred against 
me, which would be tried publicly by the 
Fire Commissioner. 


106 


RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—Give the regulations regarding 
(a) standpipe and sprinkler connections in 
company districts; (b) reports of the partic¬ 
ulars of ambulance calls. 

ANS.:—(a) The regulations regarding 
standpipe and sprinkler connections in com¬ 
pany districts are as follows: 

Commanding Officers of companies shall 
cause frequent inspections of all standpipe 
and sprinkler connections in their company 
districts. They shall see that they are all 
kept in proper order and in readiness for 
use. They shall forward reports of all found 
defective on the 20th of each month. 

In the event of a fire occurring on the 
fifth or higher floors in a building equipped 
with standpipes, the first company to arrive 
shall immediately connect with the same. 

Commanding Officers upon arriving at 
fires in premises having standpipe or auto¬ 
matic sprinkler equipment shall, when prac¬ 
ticable and advantageous, order officers to 
make proper connection to said standpipe 
or sprinklers for the purpose of more rap¬ 
idly extinguishing fires, and a report of 
same shall be made in the report of opera¬ 
tions. 

All Officers, Engineers of Steamer, or 
Firemen of the first grade, making inspec¬ 
tions, shall be required t<p notify verbally all 
owners, agents, or superintendents of build¬ 
ings where conditions may be found justi¬ 
fying such notice, to remedy all defects 
found to exist in standpipe equipment, such 
as defective Siamese couplings on the out¬ 
side of buildings or defective couplings on 
the inside of buildings, to replace missing 
or broken signs on standpipe lines and to 
remedy any misplacement of check valves 
or improper connections to roof tanks. 

(G. O. No. 7, Jan. 26, 1914.) 

Company Commanders shall keep a cor¬ 
rect record in company quarters of all ver¬ 
bal notifications given, entering the full 
name of persons to whom notices are given, 
the number of the building and the condi¬ 
tions which resulted in such notifications. 

(NOTE:—General Order No. 7, issued 
January 26, 1914, has been supplemented by 
General Order No. 38, issued July 28, 1914. 
If the condition is of a character which 
cannot be corrected by verbal notice, or if 
the second inspection shows that the verbal 
notice has not been complied with, the 
complaint or report attached to Form A 
shall be returned through regular official 
channels, if the violation relates to struc¬ 
tural changes for which the owner of the 
building is responsible and to Form II, .if 
the violation relates to matters for which 
the occupants of the building are responsi¬ 
ble. If there are violations affecting both 
owner and occupants on same premises, 
both forms are to be used, and the sheets 
fastened together and numbered as directed 
in the instructions accompanying order.) 


(b) Shall report without delay all acci¬ 
dents, collisions, etc., resulting in loss of 
life or injury to persons, or damage to prop¬ 
erty, however slight; and other extraordi¬ 
nary or unusual occurrences of any nature, 
whether happening to members of the De¬ 
partment or to its apparatus, horses, hose, 
tools, implements, etc., at any time or place; 
or to persons or to their property of any 
kind in connection with the operations of 
the Department while proceeding to, work¬ 
ing at, or returning from fires or alarms, as 
follows: 

All occurrences happening in connection 
with or incident to fire duty shall be em¬ 
braced in the report of operations at fires, 
and all others shall be made the subject of 
a special report. Forward reports of the 
particulars of "Ambulance calls” sent out 
in cases of accidents occurring at fires, or 
to the members of the Department. For all 
other ambulance calls, entry in the com¬ 
pany journal shall be sufficient. 

Ques. 2 :—State in detail the duty of a 
Captain in case a civilian complains to him 
regardmg the conduct of a member of his 
command. 

To what extent, and under what circum¬ 
stances, can a Captain grant or withhold 
leaves of absence? 

ANS.:—Procure name and address of 
complainant and ask him for names and ad¬ 
dresses of any witnesses. Enter in detail 
in the company journal the nature of the 
complaint, the name and addresses of com¬ 
plainant and witnesses and the name of the 
member complained against, if known. If 
not known, line the men up in quarters and 
see if the complainant can identify the one 
he complains of. If the member is not pres¬ 
ent, have the complainant come again at 
roll call the next morning. 

It might be that the complaint would be 
of a nature not to be entertained, because 
no violation of any rule of the Department. 
In such case I would inform the civilian 
that it was not a subject for complaint. 

Assuming that it was a proper subject for 
complaint, and after identification of the 
member, I would prefer written charges, 
naming the complainant and giving the 
names of witnesses, and attaching thereto 
any evidence in support of the charges that 
I might be able to obtain. 

If the complaint involved an altercation, 
it would be my duty to immediately notify 
the Chief of Department by special report 
and forward the report through official 
channels, and then take further action. 

The extent and circumstances under 
which a Captain may grant or withhold 
leaves of absence are as follows: 

All members and probationary Firemen 
shall have a regular leave of 24 hours every 
fifth day. 

Commanding Officers of companies may, 
in their discretion, grant leaves of absence 
to members and probationary Firemen for 
a period of 12 hours in addition to regular 
leaves of 24 hours each fifth day, when such 
leaves, in their opinion, may be granted 


107 


without injury to the service. Except when 
otherwise ordered by a superior officer, such 
leaves may be withheld as a disciplinary 
measure, but not more than two successive 
12-hour leaves shall be withheld as a dis¬ 
ciplinary measure without special author¬ 
ization. 

No more than four such leaves shall be 
granted in any one calendar month. 

They shall have power to grant special 
leaves of absence not to exceed V /2 hours in 
extraordinary cases. 

When more than two consecutive twelve- 
hour leaves shall have been stopped, a spe- 
cial report shall be forwarded to the Chief 
of Department stating the reason therefor. 

Twelve-hour leaves shall begin at 8 P. 
M. Permission is given to grant vacation 
leaves to an Officer and a Fireman in the 
same company at the same time, or to per¬ 
mit one vacation leave to extend over part 
of the time allotted to another in cases 
where it is impossible to complete the va¬ 
cations previous to December 31st. 

Members shall be given the following va¬ 
cations: 

Engineers of Steamer, Marine Engineers, 
Pilots and Firemen, 14 days. 

1% hours shall be allowed for each meal 
three times a day. 

2 hours shall be allowed for each meal 
twice a day. 

3^4 hours shall be allowed for one meal 
each day. 

Ques. 3:—Enumerate the points which 
you would require a Fireman of your com¬ 
pany to observe, report and correct under 
the Fire Commissioner’s order requiring 
members of the Uniformed Force to make 
inspections of buildings other than private 
residences, for the purpose of co-ordinating 
the work of the Bureau of Fire Prevention 
and that of the Uniformed Force of the De¬ 
partment. 

ANS.:—General Order No. 38, issued Jan. 
24, 1914, directs that Deputy Chiefs and Bat¬ 
talion Chiefs shall cause a careful inspection 
to be made of all buildings except private 
residences, in their districts; these inspec¬ 
tions to be made by Officers, Engineers of 
Steamer or Firemen. 

I would give Firemen the following direc¬ 
tions in accordance with the above-men¬ 
tioned order: 

Notify verbally all owners, agents or sup¬ 
erintendents of buildings where conditions 
may be found justifying such notice, to rem¬ 
edy all defects found to exist in standpipe 
equipment, such as defective Siamese coup¬ 
lings on the outside of buildings, or defec¬ 
tive couplings on the inside of buildings. 

Replace missing or broken signs on stand¬ 
pipe lines and remedy any misplacement of 
check-valves or improper connections to 
roof tanks. 

Remove immediately and keep the prem¬ 
ises clear of all accumulations of rubbish, 
such as cloth and cotton goods clippings, 
broken boxes, excelsior and inflammable 
waste of all kinds. 

Re-fill fire water pails where such are 


found to be empty, and have all such pails 
accessible and ready for instant use in case 
of fire. 

Change doors opening inward and see 
that they open outward. 

Change stove pipes, where such pipes are 
not properly secured in passing through 
wooden partitions. 

Unlock, or have the bolts withdrawn, 
where doors are found to be locked or 
bolted. 

Clear aisles leading to fire escapes where 
said aisles are found to be obstructed. 

Display conspicuously “No Smoking”, 
signs in all places where smoking is prohib¬ 
ited. 

Secure proper legal evidence where doors 
are found to be locked or bolted, and where 
smoking is being done in violation of law. 

Keep a correct record of all verbal noti¬ 
fications. 

Inspections made in pursuance of this or¬ 
der are to be confirmed to the matters spe¬ 
cifically enumerated therein, except that any 
unusual or dangerous conditions shall be: 
immediately reported. 

NOTE:—The above order was in force 
on the date of the examination. Another 
order was issued subsequent to the exam-:; 
ination, as follows: 

New York, July 28, 1914. 
General Order No. 38. 

I. Beginning Monday, August 3, 1914, in 
addition to the inspections which are now 
being made, Company Commanders will 
cause inspections to be made upon written 
reports and complaints which will be trans-i 
mitted to them through the regular chan¬ 
nels. 

If upon inspection the dangerous condi¬ 
tion complained of is found no longer to ex¬ 
ist, the report or complaint will be returned, 
through regular official channels, marked in' 
ink “no cause for complaint,” with the date 
of inspection, signed by the Company Com¬ 
mander. 

If the condition is of the character now 
corrected by verbal notice in pursuance 
of General Order No. 7, namely, minor de¬ 
fects in standpipe equipment, accumulations 
of rubbish, water pails inaccessible or emp¬ 
ty, defective or improperly hung fire doors 
stove pipes not properly secured where pass* 
ing through wooden partitions, obstructed) 
aisles leading to fire escapes, smoking ini 
factories, etc., verbal notice to remedy the 
defect shall be given as required by the ex¬ 
isting order. 

If upon the next regular inspection the 
verbal notice is found to have been com¬ 
plied with, the complaint or report shall be 
marked in ink “Personally abated,” and for¬ 
warded through the regular channels, signed 
by the Company Commander, dated with 
the date of inspection. 

In case the second inspection shows that,| 
the verbal notice has not been complied 
with, the complaint shall be returned 
through regular channels, with report at- 


108 




tached on the blank referred to in the next 
paragraph. 

II. If the condition is of a character 
which cannot be corrected by verbal notice, 
lor if the second inspection shows that the 
verbal notice has not been complied with, 
the complaint or report, attached to form A, 
shall be returned, through regular official 
channels, if the violation relates to struc¬ 
tural changes for which the owner of the 
building is responsible; and to form D, if 
the violation relates to matters for which 
the occupants of the building are respon¬ 
sible. 

If there are violations affecting both the 
owner and occupants on same premises, 
both forms are to be used and the sheets 
fastened together and numbered as directed 
in the instructions accompanying this order. 

When each Company Commander has dis¬ 
posed of the reports or complaints deliv¬ 
ered to him, in the manner described in the 
foregoing, he shall make a consolidated re¬ 
port, through the regular official channels, 
showing the disposition of each complaint 
by number, as either “Personally Abated,” 
“No Cause for Complaint,” or “Report Ren¬ 
dered,” as the case may be. 

Where reports are rendered, the recom¬ 
mendations shall be in accordance with the 
Standard Forms of Orders, of which a suffi¬ 
cient number of copies will be furnished 
through regular official channels to each 
Company Commander, together with the re¬ 
ports or complaints to be inspected and the 
report blanks and instructions. 

Hereafter every report or an unusual or 
dangerous condition rendered by a Com¬ 
pany Commander shall be on form A or 
form II, as the case may be, and the recom¬ 
mendations in every case shall be in the lan¬ 
guage of the Standard Forms of Orders. 

ROBERT ADAMSON, 

Fire Commissioner. 

Ques. 4:—A Fireman who has been in¬ 
specting loft buildings reports that the gate- 
valve on the roof tank connected with the 
standpipe of the building is sealed. 

(a) State what action you would take on 
this Fireman’s report. 

(b) Give in full the regulations of that 
Department on the subject of gate-valves 
on tanks of this kind. 

ANS.:—(a) General Order No. 18, issued 
April 9, 1914, answers this question as fol¬ 
lows: 

In all cases where gate-valves are used 
under tanks in standpipe lines the valves 
may remain, provided that they are sealed 
open with an approved lead seal, and a no¬ 
tice posted requiring the superintendent or 
engineer of the building to immediately no¬ 
tify the Commanding Officer of the nearest 
fire company when it is found necessary to 
break the seal. 

This seal is to consist of a heavy chain 
and lock, the key <?f lock to be kept in pos¬ 
session of the engineer or person in charge 
of building. , , , , 

If Fireman found above seal lock as de¬ 


scribed above it would not require any ac¬ 
tion to be taken. 

(b) Same as stated above, it is not nec¬ 
essary for gate-valves in sprinkler equip¬ 
ments to be sealed open. The provisions of 
General Order No. 18, regarding the sealing 
open of gate-valves in standpipe lines ap¬ 
plies only to standpipes and not to sprinkler 
equipments. Special care must be taken not 
to order the sealing open of gate-valves in 
sprinkler equipments. 

Ques. 5:—State in detail the matters and 
subjects that are required by the rules of the 
Fire Department to be recorded in the Com¬ 
pany Journal each day. 

Specify the particulars to be included in 
the report of a Commanding Officer (a) 
when he takes possession of new quarters, 
and (b) when he receives Department prop¬ 
erty from another officer. 

ANS.:—The House Watchman shall keep 
the Company Journals, and not cause, per¬ 
mit or allow them to be defaced or tam¬ 
pered with, and shall be held strictly re¬ 
sponsible for all entries made therein during 
their tour of duty, except those made per¬ 
sonally by the officers. 

Female visitors unaccompanied by male 
escorts shall be permitted to enter quar¬ 
ters as far as the patrol desk only, and then 
state their business to the House Watch¬ 
man, who shall make the entry in full on 
Company Journal. When visitors present 
themselves at quarters they shall politely 
inquire their business, and enter name or 
names on Company Journal. They shall 
keep a record in Company Journals, of all 
irregularities on telephones or combination 
circuits. 

The House Watchmen shall make entries 
in Companv Journals as directed by Com¬ 
manding Officers or as required by the rules, 
and make proper entry of any absence from 
quarters on the part of members at the time 
of occurrence, except as may be otherwise 
directed. . 

They shall see that there is recorded in 
the Company Journals the events of the 
day and all matters called for by the rules 
and regulations. 

Upon leaving quarters for any purpose 
whatever, except on an alarm of fire, and on 
returning all members shall report to the 
House Watch, who shall enter in the Com¬ 
pany Journals the exact time of leaving 
and the exact time of return, also the pur¬ 
pose of, or reason for, the proposed absence, 
or time allowed exceeded. 

The character of the Department’s busi¬ 
ness transacted in detail. Officers may make 
their own entries in Company Journals. 

It is the duty of the House Watch to en¬ 
ter upon the Company Journals the reports 
so received, in full, as per following: 

“8.15 A. M. Captain John Doe left quar- 

ters.” T f _ , 

“9.30 A. M. Captain John Doe returned 

to quarters.” ^ 

“8.30 A. M. Fireman John Doe left quar¬ 
ters for the purpose of visiting Medical Doc¬ 
tor and transacting Department business. 


109 



“10.30 A. M. Fireman John Doe returned 
to quarters from transacting Department 
business.” 

Company Commanders shall give written 
notice to members of their companies who 
may have uniforms or parts of uniforms 
condemned, specifying when such con¬ 
demned articles shall be replaced and make 
proper entry in Company Journals of their 
actions. 

Company Commanders shall keep the the¬ 
ater detail badges issued to them in their 
possession until required for use by mem¬ 
bers detailed to theaters or places of amuse¬ 
ment, who shall return them immediately 
upon reporting therefrom, and shall cause 
the number of each badge so furnished to 
detail to be recorded in the Company Jour¬ 
nals, both at the time of leaving and return¬ 
ing to quarters. 

(a) They shall upon taking possession 
of new quarters, or upon receipt of new ap¬ 
paratus or apparatus from another officer, 
forward a report to the Chief of Depart¬ 
ment, stating the location of quarters, when 
built, name of builder; height, size, descrip¬ 
tion and materials built of; whether city 
property or leased, and size of lot. 

When and where the engine was built or 
placed in service, registered number, name 
of builder; weight, size, style, size and kind 
of boiler; size in inches of steam cylinders, 
stroke of piston and pumps, number of 
horses used, and if equipped with three- 
horse gear. 

When and where the wagon was built, or 
placed in service, registered number, name 
of builder; weight, style and number of 
horses used. 

When and where hook and ladder trucks, 
towers, chemical engines, automobiles and 
automobile engines, wagons and trucks were 
built or placed in service, registered number, 
name of builder; weight, size, style, descrip¬ 
tion of pumps; size in feet of longest ladder, 
number of horses or motor power, number 
of cylinders used, and if equipped with 
three-horse gear. 

If impossible to obtain all the informa¬ 
tion, a correct copy must be obtained and 
kept in quarters. 

(b) A book form of property returns. 
Two copies shall be forwarded to each Com¬ 
pany, Division, Bureau, etc., to be made out 
as of December 31st of each year. One book 
to be retained by the officer preparing the 
same; the other to be forwarded to the 
Division of Requisition and Property Ac¬ 
countability before January 15 of the ensu¬ 
ing year. 

For all supplies received from the Repair 
Shops, Division of Buildings or Telegraph 
Bureau which are expended in making re¬ 
pairs to apparatus, etc., no invoice shall be 
issued, but a receipt obtained for same. 

For all other supplies received, one in¬ 
voice and one receipt, form No. 209, shall 
be prepared by the Division or officers issu¬ 
ing same. 

The invoice is to be retained by the re¬ 
ceiver of the goods and the receipt prop¬ 


erly signed and returned to the Division or 
officer issuing same. 

For articles lost or to be condemned, form 
No. 203 shall be prepared in duplicate and 
forwarded to the Division of Requisition and 
Property Accountability as heretofore. One 
copy of form No. 203 which has been acted 
upon must accompany the Property Re¬ 
turn Book when forwarded to the Divi¬ 
sion of Requisition and Property Account¬ 
ability and qne copy to be retained by the 
Commanding Officer. 

There shall also be forwarded with the 
Property Return Book a receipt form No. 
209 for any apparatus, supplies, etc., which 
may have been forwarded to the Division 
of Apparatus or other division and not re¬ 
turned before the expiration of the year. 

When forwarding apparatus, supplies, etc., 
to the Division of- Apparatus or other divi¬ 
sion for repairs, one invoice and two re¬ 
ceipts must accompany same, the invoice 
to be retained by the receiver of the goods 
and the receipts properly signed and re¬ 
turned to the division or officer issuing 
same. One of these receipts is to be for¬ 
warded with the Property Return Book 
should the goods not be returned before 
the expiration of the year. 

Repairs shall not be invoiced in compa¬ 
nies. 

No stationery, except company journals, 
shall be carried on the property returns. 

All apparatus shall be specified by its 
class, designation and registered number. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 
Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—What are the duties of the Fire 
Department in reference to the rules and 
regulations of the Industrial Board of the 
Department of Labor? 

NOTE:—'This question is an important 
one. Comparatively few members of the 
Department are clear as to the relation of 
the Fire Department and factories. There 
are several conflicting laws, and the exact 
powers of the Fire Commissioner in relation 
to factories are involved in doubt. The an¬ 
swer which follows is more copious than re¬ 
quired at the examination, but the matter 
regarding the duties of the Industrial Board 
of the Department of Labor will prove in¬ 
structive. 

ANS.:—Section 774 of the Charter pro¬ 
vides: 

Duties of Fire Commissioner: The Com¬ 
missioner is empowered to enforce all laws 
and ordinances and the rules and regula¬ 
tions of the Industrial Board of the Depart¬ 
ment of Labor in respect of: 

1. The prevention of fires and danger to 
and loss of life and property therefrom: 

2. The storage, sale, transportation or use 
of combustibles, chemicals and explosives: 

3. The installation and maintenance of 
automatic or other fire-alarm systems and 
fire-extinguishing equipment; 

4. The means and adequacy of exit, in 
case of fire, in and from all buildings, struc- 


110 


tures, enclosures, vessels, places and prem¬ 
ises in which numbers of persons work, live 
or congregate from time to time for any 
purpose, except tenement houses and ex¬ 
cept factories as defined by the Labor Law. 
(Note: Here is where the confusion arises, 
due to the many changes in and the con¬ 
flicting provisions of the Labor Law.) 

5. The investigation of the cause, circum¬ 
stances and origin of fires and the suppres¬ 
sion of arson as amended by the Laws of 
1914, Chapter 459. 

The duties of the Industrial Board of the 
Department of Labor are: 

(1) To make investigations concerning 
and report upon all matters touching the en¬ 
forcement and effect of the provisions of 
laws relating to labor, factories and mercan¬ 
tile establishments, and in the course of 
such investigations each member of the 
Board and the Secretary shall have power 
to administer oaths and take affidavits. Each 
member of the Board and the Secretary 
shall have power, to make personal inspec¬ 
tions of all factories, factory buildings, mer¬ 
cantile establishments and other places 
which are covered by the State Labor Law. 

(2) To make, alter, amend or repeal rules 
and regulations for guarding against and 
minimizing fire hazards with respect to: (a) 
the. construction, alteration, equipment and 
maintenance of factories, factory buildings, 
mercantile establishments and other places 
they may deem necessary, including the 
conversion of structures into factories and 
factory buildings; (b) the storing and keep¬ 
ing of property and articles in factories, 
factory buildings and mercantile establish¬ 
ments. They shall also provide reasonable 
and adequate protection to the lives of all 
persons employed therein. 

The duties of the Fire Department in ref¬ 
erence to the rules and regulations of the 
Industrial Board of the Department of La¬ 
bor would be that the Fire Department 
should work in conjunction with the above 
rules and regulations, particularly in laws 
relating to factories and mercantile estab¬ 
lishments. Refer all inspections made by 
members of the uniformed force and the 
Fire Prevention Inspectors relating to fac¬ 
tories and mercantile establishments in 
places where it is found that the law has 
been violated to the State Department of 
Labor for their inspection. The Commis¬ 
sioner of Labor has the power to order the 
enforcement of the law as defined by the 
Industrial Board of the Department of La¬ 
bor. 

Every factory building over two stories 
in height in which more than 25 persons 
are employed above the ground floor shall 
be equipped with a fire-alarm signal system 
with a sufficient number of signals clearly 
audible to all occupants thereof. Such sys¬ 
tem shall be maintained in good working 
order. It shall be the duty of whoever dis¬ 
covers a fire to cause an alarm to be sound¬ 
ed immediately. In New York City the Fire 
Commissioner is charged with the duty of 
enforcing this requirement. 

In every factory building over two stories 


in height in which more than 25 persons 
are employed above the ground floor, a fire 
drill which will conduct all the occupants 
to a place of safety and in which all the oc¬ 
cupants shall participate simultaneously 
shall be conducted at least once a month. 
The Fire Commissioner is charged with the 
duty of enforcing this requirement. 

The Fire Commissioner has authority to 
order fire drills in buildings other than fac¬ 
tories, and in all cases where provision is 
not otherwise made by law or ordinance, 
except in tenement houses. 

In every factory building over seven stor¬ 
ies, or 90 feet, in height in which wooden 
flooring or wooden trim is used, and more 
than 200 people are regularly employed 
above the seventh floor, or more than 90 
feet above the ground level of such building, 
the owner of the building shall install an 
automatic sprinkler system, approved as to 
form and manner, in the City of New York, 
by the Fire Commissioner, and elsewhere, 
by the State Fire Marshal. A failure to com¬ 
ply with this section shall be a misde¬ 
meanor, as provided by Section 1275 of the 
Penal Law. 

Every factory shall be provided with prop¬ 
erly covered fireproof receptacles, the num¬ 
ber, style and location of which shall be ap¬ 
proved in the City of New York by the Fire 
Commissioner. 

All gas jets or lights in factories shall be 
properly enclosed by globes, wire cages or 
otherwise properly protected in the manner 
approved in the City of New York by the 
Fire Commissioner. 

No person shall smoke in any factory. A 
notice of such prohibition stating the pen¬ 
alty for violation thereof shall be posted 
in every entrance hall and every elevator 
car, and in every stair, hall and room on 
every floor of such factory in English, and 
also in such other language or language as 
the Fire Commissioner of the City of New 
York shall direct. 

Ques. 2:—Prepare for the use of the Fire¬ 
men of your company engaged in inspection 
work: 

(a) An outline of the requirements of the 
law with reference to locked doors in build¬ 
ings. 

(b) Include in this outline a clear state¬ 
ment of the evidence which should be ob¬ 
tained in each case of a violation, in order 
that a conviction of the offender may be se¬ 
cured in court. 

(c) An outline of the requirements of the 
law with reference to smoking in buildings. 

(d) Include in this outline a clear state¬ 
ment of the evidence which should be ob¬ 
tained in each case of a violation, in order 
that a conviction of the offender may be se¬ 
cured in court. 

ANS.:—(a) Members making inspections 
of buildings, particularly factories or build¬ 
ings where a large number of persons con¬ 
gregate, work or live, should make a thor¬ 
ough inspection of doors and windows for 
the purpose of ascertaining whether same 
are locked or bolted during working hours. 


The Labor Law specifically states that no 
door, window or other opening on any 
floor of a factory building shall be obstruct¬ 
ed by stationary metal bars, grating or wire 
mesh. 

Metal bars, grating or wire mesh provided 
for any such door, window or other opening 
shall be so constructed as to be readily mov¬ 
able or removable from both sides in such 
manner as to afford the free and unob¬ 
structed use of such door, window or other 
opening as a means of egress in case of 
need, and they shall be left unlocked during 
working hours. 

No door leading into or out of any fac¬ 
tory or any floor thereof shall be locked, 
bolted or fastened during working hours. 

(b) In order that a conviction of the of¬ 
fender may be secured in court it is neces¬ 
sary for the Fireman making the inspection 
to secure the name and address of the occu¬ 
pant or occupants of the premises where 
the locked doors are located, the exact loca¬ 
tion, purpose for which the door is used 
and the time the door was locked. The ma¬ 
jority of these cases that have been tried in 
court of late have resulted in conviction of 
the offender. The Judge usually takes the 
word of the Inspector as being sufficient 
evidence to convict. 

(c) No person shall smoke in any factory. 
A notice of such prohibition stating the pen¬ 
alty for violation thereof shall be posted in 
every entrance hall and every elevator car, 
and in every stair, hall and room on every 
floor of such factory in English and also in 
such other language or languages as the 
Fire Commissioner of the City of New 
York shall direct. The Fire Commissioner 
shall enforce the provisions of this sub-divi¬ 
sion. 

(d) In order that a conviction of the of¬ 
fender may be secured in court it would be 
necessary to do the same thing as stated in 
section “b.” 

Ques. 3:—What are the rights, duties and 
privileges of the “Fire Patrol” at and after 
a fire? 

ANS.:—The officers and men of the Fire 
Patrol, with their apparatus of all kinds, 
when going to, or on duty at or returning 
from a fire, shall have the right of way in 
any street and through any procession, ex¬ 
cept over vehicles carrying the United States 
mail. 

t The Fire Patrol has authority to save 
life and property. It is the duty of officers 
of the Fire or Police Departments before 
leaving any premises wherein a fire occurred 
to see that such property is turned over in¬ 
tact to the Fire Patrol when the Fire Pa¬ 
trol succeeds the Fire Department as cus¬ 
todian of said property. 

Their duty at a fire is to spread tarpaulins 
over the merchandise in order to prevent 
further water damage; and prevent any per¬ 
sons from unlawfully appropriating prop¬ 
erty. 

Ques. 4:—An old-fashioned brick tene¬ 
ment house, having two apartments on a 


floor, each apartment running through from 
front to rear, has rear fire escapes only; 
the owner of the building is ordered to put 
fire escapes on the front of the tenement 
also, but refuses to do so. Can he be forced 
to obey the order? Give reasons for your 
answer. Would your answer be different if 
some of the apartments had been made into 
two small suites by means of solid partitions 
from floor to ceiling? 

ANS.:—The owner of the building can¬ 
not be forced to obey the order, as the Ten¬ 
ement House Law specifically states that 
fire escapes hereafter erected upon tenement 
houses shall be constructed, arranged and 
located as follows: 

Such fire escapes shall open directly from 
at least one room or private hall in each 
apartment at each story above the ground 
floor other than a bath room or water closet 
compartment, and shall not include the win¬ 
dow of a stair hall, and such room or pri¬ 
vate hall shall be an integral part of said 
apartment and accessible to every room 
thereof without passing through a public 
hall. 

Fire escapes on tenement houses erected 
prior to April 10, 1901, may be deemed suf¬ 
ficient in the following cases: 

1. If located on the front or rear wall of 
the building and properly connected with 
stairs or stationary ladders with proper 
openings. 

2. If a party wall balcony on the front or 
rear wall of the building, and there are no 
doors or openings in the walls between the 
two buildings, other than windows in fire¬ 
proof air shafts. 

3. If fire escapes are located on tenement 
houses that are less than four stories in 
height and they are such iron, steel or wire 
cable fire escapes as have been approved by 
the Tenement House Department. 

Yes, the owner of the building can be or¬ 
dered to provide fire escapes if some of the 
apartments had been made into two small 
suites by means of solid partitions from 
floor to ceiling. 

The law specifically states that tenement 
houses hereafter having apartments not con¬ 
taining any room fronting upon the street 
or yard shall have a fire escape in a court 
projecting not more than 4 feet beyond the 
face of the wall of the house, and shall be 
directly connected at the bottom of such 
court with a fireproof passageway not less 
than 3 feet wide and 7 feet high leading to 
the street. 

All fire escapes not on the street shall 
have a safe and adequate means of egress 
from the yard or court to the street or to 
the adjoining premises. 

Ques. 5:—In order to maintain a cleaning 
and dyeing establishment certain restric¬ 
tions are placed on the building where such 
an industry is conducted. Mention at least 
six of these restrictions. 

ANS.:—1. It shall be unlawful for any 
person to maintain or operate a dry clean¬ 
ing or dry dyeing establishment within the 


112 


City of New York without a permit from 
the Fire Commissioner. 

2. No permit to maintain and operate a 
ar y , cleaning or dry dyeing establishment 
shall be issued for any building: 

(a) In which the compartment wherein 
the volatile inflammable oil is used is situ¬ 
ated within 50 feet of the nearest wall of 
any building occupied as a school, hospital, 
theater or other place of public amusement 
or assembly; 

(b) Which is occupied as a tenement 
house, dwelling house or hotel; 

(c) Which is of wooden construction; 

(d) In which the compartment wherein 
the volatile inflammable oil is used is arti¬ 
ficially lighted by any means other than 
electricity; 

(e) Where drugs, cigars, cigarettes or to¬ 
bacco are kept for sale; 

(f) Where paints, varnishes or lacquers 
are manufactured, stored or kept for sale, 
or where dry goods or other highly inflam¬ 
mable materials are manufactured, stored 
or kept for sale, or where matches, resin, 
turpentine, hemp, cotton or any explosives 
are stored or kept. 

3. Each storage tank shall be coated on 
the outside with tar or other rust-resisting 
material, shall rest upon a solid foundation, 
and shall be embedded in and surrounded 
by at least 12 inches of Portland cement 
concrete; and shall not be located under the 
sidewalk or in front of the building line. 

4. Each room or compartment wherein a 
washing tank is located shall be properly 
ventilated, and shall be equipped with self¬ 
closing fireproof doors and windows and 
shall be equipped with an approved steam 
fire extinguishing system, the supply valve 
for which shall be placed on the outside of 
the washing room with one valve so ar¬ 
ranged that the steam can be instantane¬ 
ously turned on. 

5. No system of artificial lighting other 
than incandescent electric lights shall be in¬ 
stalled in any room or compartment where¬ 
in volatile inflammable oil is stored or used, 
unless of a type for which a certificate of 
approval shall have been issued by the Fire 
Commissioner. All incandescent lights shall 
be fitted with keyless sockets, and all elec¬ 
tric switches and plugs shall be placed at 
le^st 4 feet above the floor. 

6. No stove, forge, torch, boiler, furnace, 
flame or fire, and no electric or other appli¬ 
ance that is likely to produce an exposed 
spark, shall be installed in any room or 
compartment in which volatile inflammable 
oil is stored or used; and‘it shall be unlaw¬ 
ful for any person to carry matches into any 
r oom or compartment in which volatile in¬ 
flammable oil is stored or used, or to smoke 
or carry a lighted cigar, cigarette or pipe 
into such room or compartment, and a no¬ 
tice in large letters, “Smoking Prohibited,” 
shall be conspicuously displayed on each 
floor where volatile inflammable oil is stored 
or used. 

Such premises shall be equipped with fire 
buckets filled with sand and kept on each 
floor for use in extinguishing fire; and a 


quantity of sand shall be kept on each 
floor for absorbing waste oils. 

REPORT—Weight 1. 

(To be finished by 5.30 P. M.) 

Write a report of at least two pages in 
length on the advantages or disadvantages 
of the division of authority over fire pre¬ 
ventive measures between the Fire Depart¬ 
ment, the Labor Department and the Tene¬ 
ment House Department. 

N. B. 1. Do not sign any name, number, 
title, initials or distinguishing mark to this 
report. If you do, your papers will not be 
rated. 

N. B. No. 2. In rating the report consid¬ 
eration will be given both to the value of 
the fire information contained therein and 
to the form in which the report is pre¬ 
pared. 

ANSWER: 

New York, April 29, 1914. 

Municipal Civil Service Commission, 

City of New York. 

Gentlemen: 

I respectfully submit the following rela¬ 
tive to the disadvantages , of the division of 
authority over fire preventive measures be¬ 
tween the Fire Department, the Labor De¬ 
partment and the Tenement House Depart¬ 
ment: 

The principal difficulty we have in New 
York City is that altogether too many 
agencies are dealing with the matter. We 
have inspections of buildings by no less than 
five departments. 

Last year the jurisdiction over factories 
was divided between the Fire Department 
and the State Labor Department, the Fire 
Department retaining authority over the 
installation of fire-extinguishing appliances 
and the ordering of fire drills and installa¬ 
tion of fire alarm systems, and the Labor 
Department having authority over the im¬ 
portant matter of construction and exits. A 
new Board, known as the Industrial Board, 
was created to administer the law for the 
State Labor Department. 

The authority the Fire Department has 
over tenement houses is not as great as 
over factories and other mercantile build¬ 
ings, except in the storage of combustible 
materials, and removing accumulations of 
rubbish, etc., also dumb-waiter doors. The 
tenement houses being constructed of late 
are almost required to be fireproof through¬ 
out, and there seems to be very little trou¬ 
ble in the line of fires originating in the 
up-to-date tenement houses except through 
the carelessness of the occupants. 

The result of having so many departments 
inspecting buildings, with the power to is¬ 
sue orders to property owners, has naturally 
resulted in a great deal of dissatisfaction 
and some confusion. Property owners com¬ 
plain that they are being constantly in- 


113 


spected and that frequently they are served 
with contradictory orders. 

Undoubtedly there is foundation for this 
complaint. At best, our New York City 
property owners have a heavy burden to 
carry and it is unfortunate that in making 
legal provision for fire prevention and the 
protection of the lives of workers our Leg¬ 
islature has not provided for simplified ad¬ 
ministration. 

In conclusion, I wish to state that if the 
different departments making these inspec¬ 
tions would come together and have an un¬ 
derstanding and have Legislature enact laws 
to bring them under one Bureau, it should 
result in greater efficiency and it would be 
a relief to property owners. 

Respectfully submitted, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

CAPTAIN. 

Fire Department. 

Date: August 12, 1913. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

Weight—5. 

(To be finished by 1.30 P. M.) 

Ques. 1 and 2:—You will find below a de¬ 
scription of a building as shown on the 
accompanying diagram, the location and 
description of a fire and other information. 
State exactly what you would do, in the 
order in which you would do it, if you were 
in command at the fire on a first alarm. 
Explain in detail where you would place 
each engine company, each hook and lad¬ 
der company and what other action you 
would take. Owing to a large fire a mile 
distant, the sending of a third alarm will 
bring only the equivalent of a second alarm 
assignment. What additional alarms would 
you send and what disposition would you 
make of your forces to control the fire un¬ 
til the arrival of a superior officer? You 
have at your command on the first alarm 4 
engine companies, 2 hook and ladder 
trucks and 1 water tower. 

DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING: A 
mercantile loft building, 12 stories high, has 
a frontage of 90 feet on A Street, extending 
back 87 feet. An extension 48 feet wide 
and 113 feet long extends to B Street. 
There is a stairway and elevator shaft on 
the westerly side of the extension 50 feet 
from B Street. There is another stairway 
and elevator shaft on the easterly side of 
the main building, 20 feet from A Street. 
The doors leading from the several floors 
to both elevator shafts and the top of each 
elevator shaft on the roof are of wired 
glass. The windows on both streets are of 
plain glass. 

AUXILIARY FIRE APPARATUS: A 
4-inch standpipe with hose attachment is 
located in each stair well, being cross con¬ 


nected in the cellar. There are 2 regulation 
Siamese connections to standpipe near the 
easterly line of the building on A Street, 
and also near the westerly side of the 
building on B Street, as shown on diagram. 

LOCATION OF FIRE HYDRANTS: 
As shown on diagram with good supply of 
water for each. The fire is not in the high- 
pressure district. 

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF 
FIRE: On your arrival you find that a fire 
has broken out some time before on the 
7th floor near the elevator shaft on the B 
Street side. The heat has melted the wire 
glass of the elevator shaft and the fire has 
extended through the shaft and mush¬ 
roomed on the 11th and 12th floors. 

DIRECTION OF WIND: A moderate 
breeze is blowing from the south. 

ANS.:—Upon my arrival and noting the 
conditions, also being aware of the large 
fire a mile distant, and the character of 
alarm transmitted for the same, I would 
immediately send out a 3rd alarm, taking 
into consideration the district and the ex¬ 
tent of the fire. 

I would order the 1st Engine Co. to take 
2 lengths of 2 k 2 -inch hose, connect to the 
6th floor outlet on B Street, stretch up to 
the 7th floor, and open valve and start 
water. 

The men in the street would have 
stretched a 3-inch line from the engine into 
the Siamese connection, Engine being con¬ 
nected to Hydrant D on B Street. 

Second Engine Co., which would be con¬ 
nected up from Hydrant K on B Street, 
would also stretch a 3-inch line to the Si¬ 
amese connection, and connect a 3-inch line 
to the standpipe on the 2nd floor outlet. 
The company would take up 3 lengths, 
connect to the 7th floor outlet, if possible, 
and get to work up the stairway and keep 
line going between the elevator shaft and 
stairway, which would extinguish any fire 
that would fall to the bottom of the shaft. 

The 1st H. & L. Co. would effect an en¬ 
trance for the Co. on B Street, open up 
and ventilate the building and get to the 
roof, if possible. Open the elevator shaft 
and skylight and stairway door, take off, if 
necessary, to relieve the building of heat 
and smoke. This would allow the engine 
companies to work up and extinguish the 
fire. They could also stretch a line from 
the point of best vantage, either at the 
elevator shaft or up the stairway and on 
the floor, if possible. 

The 2nd H. & L. Co. would have per¬ 
formed the same, on A Street, and assisted 
the companies, in stretching lines. Also 
stretch house line on the floors where fire 
had extended, and extinguish same, and 
keep from spreading; also closing any win¬ 
dows or iron shutters, if any open. 

The 3rd and 4th Engine Cos. would have 
connected up to the Siamese connection to 
hydrants F. and G on A Street, and would 
take up their 2 k 2 -inch hose and get to work 
from the point of best vantage, either 
across the floors, or keep the fire away from 


114 






115 


Sketch relating to Questions 1 and 2 in examination for Fire Captain, August 12, 1918. 



































the elevator shaft. After the engines have 
been connected to the Siamese connections, 
have two 3-inch lines stretched, one from 
each engine to the 2nd and 3rd floor out¬ 
lets, using increasers and double female 
connections to make up the same. When 
ready, open up the valves on the standpipe 
outlets, notify the engineer to open up the 
gate, and send the water along to give suf¬ 
ficient pressure. 

The Water Tower would be placed on B 
Street in position in front of building. Have 
at least 2 lines of 3-inch hose stretched into 
tower from engines connected to hydrants E 
and J. Have the tower mast raised and fully 
extended to the proper angle, with nozzle 
directed to reach the ceiling, in about 15 
feet on the floor, and use only should the 
fire show or come out of the windows. 
Keep the fire from going to the upper 
floors, and also to prevent the men who 
may be working on the upper floors from 
being cut off. 

Would also place lines to advantage in 
adjoining and surrounding buildings. 

My main effort would be to get to work 
on the side the wind was blowing from, by 
placing most of the companies at advan¬ 
tageous points. 

Would have the buildings examined thor¬ 
oughly to see that fire had not extended to 
adjoining buildings, through concealed 
spaces, and concentrate my lines where the 
largest body of the fire was, and once I 
made an impression with many streams, the 
fire could be readily controlled. 

The H. & L. Cos. after opening up and 
ventilating, would assist the Engine Cos. in 
stretching their lines, also covering the 
stairway and elevator shaft, and extinguish 
any fire that would drop to the bottom. 
Also overhaul burnt material thoroughly, 
cut up floors and window casings, pull 
down ceiling and partitions, and other nec¬ 
essary work; and by raising such ladders 
as might be required, if any people were in 
the building on the B Street side. 

If the fire had assumed such large pro¬ 
portions as to melt the wire glass and 
mushroom up the elevator shaft to the 11th 
and 12th floors, which would be unlikely, 
considering the construction of the build¬ 
ing and the fact that the fire started on the 
7th floor near the elevator shaft on B 
Street, which is about 75 feet from the 
front of the building, I would immediately 
send out a 3rd alarm, and get the compa¬ 
nies to work where it showed from the ele¬ 
vator shaft; also use many lines from the 
standpipes on the different floors, and work 
across the floor to the best advantage. 

I would order sufficient lines connected 
to both standpipes to supply same, to be 
sure that the streams would be efficient. 
Would notify the Water Dep’t by telephone 
of the location of the fire, and for them to 
increase the pressure on the mains. Also 
see that the engines were connected to the 
double hydrants on the largest mains and 
that they were supplied with sufficient fuel 
to give the proper pressures. 

Also have transmitted preliminary re¬ 


port, by telephone, to Dep’t Hdqtrs., and 
upon the arrival of my superior officer I 
would inform him where the Cos. were 
placed and the general situation, and what 
steps I had so far taken. 

Ques. 3:—(a) There is a fire in the cellar 
of a 10-story building. The first floor is 
fireproof with brick arches, filled with cin¬ 
der concrete on which is laid a 2-inch wood 
floor. 

You are in command of a hook and lad¬ 
der truck and are directed to pierce this 
floor so as to admit a Baker or a Hart cel¬ 
lar pipe; what size opening would you 
make, what tools would you use and how 
would you use them? 

(b) There is a fire on the end of a pier 
800 feet long on the Hudson River, which 
is spreading rapidly toward the shore and 
under the influence of a strong breeze from 
the southwest. If you were in command 
of a fireboat and the first to arrive, state 
exactly what you would do, giving your 
reasons and assuming that there was no 
time to land and report for specific orders. 

ANS.:—(a) Get a few axes with sharp 
edges, cut up about 2 feet of the wood 
flooring, using slanting blows. Get a hole 
drift and a heavy maul to break about 1 
foot of the concrete. Get a shovel to re¬ 
move the cinders. Get to the center of the 
arch and make an opening a little larger 
than the size of the Baker or Hart cellar 
pipe, to allow the men to operate same 
without any inconvenience from the smoke. 
Battering ram could be used to good ad¬ 
vantage after opening is made and the first 
brick is knocked out. 

(b) I would order the pilt to get to the 
leeward side of the fire. Get in as close as 
I could without putting the boat or crew 
in any danger. Stretch the rail pipes and 
deck lines. Start the line with open noz¬ 
zles, as many lines from the turrets as the 
boat could conveniently handle, and keep 
the fire from traveling toward the shore, so 
that when the land companies got to work 
they would be able to use their lines to the 
best advantage and keep the fire from ex¬ 
tending and extinguish it more rapidly. 

I would also have the enclosure opened 
so as to allow the heat and smoke out and 
to enable the use of the lines to better ad¬ 
vantage, as the boat lines are able to do 
great execution with many 3-inch lines with 
V>A and 1 ^ 2 -inch nozzles and sufficient 
pressure. Also if fire came out on the top 
of pier I would use the aft and forward 
tower deck pipes to good advantage. 

The idea is to get in towards the shore 
as near as possible, and drive the fire 
toward the river, which would keep it from 
its greatest possibilities of damage. 

Ques. 4:—(a) What distance from the 
front of a building should the butt of a 35- 
foot ladder be placed to be in proper posi¬ 
tion? How is the proper distance deter¬ 
mined for all sizes of ladders? 

(b) What distance from the side of a 
building should a 75-foot aerial hook and 


116 


ladder truck be placed, assuming that the 
ladder is to be raised to a window 60 feet 
from the ground? How would you deter¬ 
mine that the ladder, when raised, would 
be in line with the window? 

(c) Give the rule, as taught by the Fire 
Department, for finding nozzle pressure. 
Give an example illustrating your answer. 

(d) Write out the signal numbers used 
in telegraph alarms, explaining the mean¬ 
ing of each. 

ANS.:—(a) It should be placed 9 feet 
from the front of a building. 

The rule for finding the same, as taught 
at the Fire College, is to divide the length 
of the ladder by 5 and add 2. 

(b) I would have the Truck placed so 
that it would be away from the building 14 
feet. Have the bed-ladder raised, and ex¬ 
tend the fly-ladder. Let it in towards the 
building to be away 1 foot, and 1 foot, 3 
inches over the window-sill. As the truck 
is 14 feet from the building and about 6 
feet above the curb, it would be necessary 
to raise the ladder 55 feet, 7 inches. 

14 feet from building 

14 

56 

14 

196 

54 ft. Truck is about 6 ft. 

54 from curb. 

216 

270 


2916 

196 


V 3112 (55 ft., 7 in. 

25 

612 

105 525 

1107 8700 

7749 

By placing the hub of the front wheel of 
the Truck in front of the window in line 
where the ladder is desired, and when the 
ladder is extended the dogs are placed on 
the cogs to make sure that the ladder is 
fastened and secure; also the locking de¬ 
vice on the fly-ladder is let in on the round 
of ladder by hearing the click, to make 
sure that it is safe before being used. 

(c) Multiply the factor used for different 
size nozzles and hose and the number of 
length used in line; then add the constant. 
Then divide that into the engine or hydrant 
pressure, which will give the nozzle pres¬ 
sure. 


EXAMPLE:— 

0 . 0 -r-. . r 2 l A inch of hose 

.248 Factor for ^ inch nozzle 

6 Number of lengths 


1.488 

1.488 

Constant 1.1 Engine Pressure. 


2.588)150.000(57 noz. pres. 
12940 


20600 

18126 


2474 

Practically, 58 lbs. nozzle pressure. 

(d) Preliminary Signals. 

2— Preliminary Signal for all Stations 
North and East of the Harlem River (Bor¬ 
ough of The Bronx, also stations in the an¬ 
nexed district, Borough of Brooklyn), viz.: 
Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend and New 
Utrecht. 

3— Special Building. 

4— High-Pressure breakdown at a fire 
and for Queens. 

5— Engines Companies. 

6— High-Pressure Cos. and Wagons of 
Cos. only. 

7— Hook and Ladder Cos. 

8— Fuel Wagons. 

9— Water Towers. 

10— Pneumatic Alarms. 

11— Tests. 

12— Fire Patrol. 

13— Accidents to Apparatus. 

14— Searchlights. 

15— National District. 

16— Boat Tenders. 

17— Automatic 2nd Series. 

18— Chemical Engines. 

19— Automatic 2nd Series. 

2- 2—2nd Alarms. 

3- 3—3rd Alarms. 

4- 4—4th Alarms. 

5- 5—5th Alarms. 

6_6—Borough Call for Manhattan and 
Bronx. 

7- 7—Borough Call for Brooklyn and 
Queens. 

8- 8—Borough Call for Richmond. 

9- 9—Simultaneous Call. 

2- 2-2—Out of Service Taps and Pay 
Signal. 

3 - 3 _ 3 —Pay Signal for Paymaster’s Office 
only. 

4 _ 4 _ 4 —Ambulances and Return of Com¬ 
panies. 

5-5-5^Sappers’ and Miners’ Corps. 

5- 5-5-5—Sappers’ and Miners’ Whole 
Corps. 

6- 6-6—High-Pressure breakdown, except 
at a fire. 

9-9-9—High Pressure in service. 

2_2-2-2—For Engines only (at Station re¬ 
quired). 

3-3-3-3—Call for Men (in any Borough), 
9-9 4-981 2-2 4-137—Special Call for 

Apparatus from Boroughs of Brooklyn and 
Queens to Rockaway Beach. 


117 






3-3-3-3 267-6-1-2—Special Call for Men. 
1 officer and 11 men, directing them to pro¬ 
ceed to the location of the box. From the 
6th Division. 

Ques. 5:—An engine with a capacity of 
900 gallons of water a minute at a pressure 
of 125 pounds on the pumps is connected to 
a double hydrant with a pressure of 40 
pounds to the square inch, situated 300 feet 
from a fire. 630 gallons is required at the 
street level, using a 1^4-inch smooth bore 
open nozzle. What size hose, what tools, 
etc., should be used? What would be the 
required nozzle pressure, and what would 
be the pressure on the pumps? 

ANS.:—I would use 11 lengths of 3-inch 
hose, 1 3-inch Siamese connection, 1 open 
nozzle, lj4-inch smooth bore, 1 Paradox 
Pipe Holder. 

The nozzle pressure that would be re¬ 
quired would be approximately 89 lbs., and 
126 lbs. on the engine pumps. 

I would stretch 5 lengths of 3-inch hose 
to each gate, and Siamese them to 1 length 
of 3-inch hose with a lj4-inch nozzle. 

EXAMPLE:— 

051 

6 


306 

1.1 

- Eng. Pr. 

1.406)126.000 
112 48 


9.43 


(89 

81 


13 520 
12 654 


184)800 

736 


866 1883)6400 
5649 

Noz. 

1.5 

1.5 

75 

15 

2.25 Sq. of noz. 

9.43 Sq. Rt. of Noz. Pres. 


21.2175 

29.7 Bar. Pres. 

630.15975 Gals, of water discharging 

per minute. 

Ques. 6:—As Acting Chief of Battalion 
you are the first to arrive at a fire at Sta¬ 
tion 9999 on January 3, 1911. The station is 
situated at the top of a steep hill; the ther¬ 
mometer is at ten degrees above zero and 
the roads are covered with ice and snow. 
The first alarm assignment at this station 
consists of one hook and ladder truck, two 
engine companies and a Chief of Battalion. 
There is a row of forty frame dwellings at 
the top of the hill, each covering an area 
of 900 square feet and having two stories, a 
basement and an attic. The buildings have 
single-joisted floors and a similar roof cov¬ 


ered with tin. Each house has one open 
stairs and one dumbwaiter enclosed in lath 
and plaster and with wooden doors to first 
and second floors. The division between 
the houses consists of the lath and plaster 
of the room partitions on the wood stud¬ 
ding, the space between studs being filled 
with 3-inch composition gypsum blocks. 
These blocks do not fill the spaces in the 
roof space nor the space between the roof 
beams. A metal cornice on wood frame 
without fire stops runs along the entire 
block. The fire is burning on the second 
floor of a vacant house in the middle of the 
block. 

State exactly what action you would take, 
in the order in which you would take it, 
and give your reason in full in each case. 

ANS.:—I would immediately upon arriv¬ 
ing go to the building on fire and try and 
extinguish the fire with pails of water, or at 
least try to keep it from spreading. Order 
the Driver to meet the 1st Engine Co. and 
to stretch to the nearest hydrant. Also for 
the H. & L. Co. to assist in stretching and 
getting a stream on the fire. If they were 
unable to stretch their line owing to the 
long distance from the hydrant to the fire, 
bring the 2nd Engine up about 500 feet 
towards the fire, and relay the engines. 
Then stretch from this engine to the fire, 
both companies working together. The 
main object is to get a stream on the fire. 

The fire being in an empty building on 
the 2nd floor, considering that the house 
is vacant and the size 30x30, there is no 
reason why it should be difficult for a few 
men to extinguish it. If it got any head¬ 
way at all, have the H. & L. Co. open up 
the roof and ventilate; also each side of the 
cornice and roof and beams. Look for the 
hanging ceiling, and examine all op£n and 
concealed spaces where fire may travel, for 
if fire got to the roof spaces between the 
roof beams, or in the lath and plaster par¬ 
titions, it would travel very rapidly and ex¬ 
tend and mushroom. 

Have the metal cornices opened up in 
the buildings each side of the fire to make 
sure that fire had not got in the adjoining 
buildings, and examine the buildings thor¬ 
oughly, for if fire got in there, and there be¬ 
ing no fire stops, it would be liable to sweep 
the entire block. 

Get lines at each side of the fire, and use 
same on the roofs, if embers are falling 
and traveling from the fire. 

Truckmen would open up and ventilate, 
pull down lath and plaster partitions. Con¬ 
sidering the wooden doors on the dumb¬ 
waiters, if any fire got up there, it would 
travel rapidly and mushroom. 

Metal cornices might have to be taken off, 
if fire got into the wooden frames. Make 
sure by examining thoroughly. 

If any additional help was required, which 
I would see when the companies arrived, 
I would send out additional alarms. 

I would make sure that fire did not 
travel, on account of the frame and open- 
joisted construction, and make my fight to 
confine the fire to the point of starting and 


118 








keep from extending; and if it got out of 
the house where it originated, open up the 
building either the first, or several houses, 
each side of the fire and get lines to work 
there. 

Ques. 7:—There is a fire in a small bed¬ 
room on the third floor rear of a new-law 
tenement house. The apartment consists 
of four rooms, and the bedroom is com¬ 
pletely enveloped in flames when you reach 
the building. The entire floor is filled with 
a dense smoke arising from burning excel¬ 
sior. 

(a) State in detail and in chronological 
order what action you would take as Cap¬ 
tain of the engine company first due at this 
fire. 

(b) State in detail and in chronological 
order what action you would take as Cap¬ 
tain of the truck company first due at this 
fire. 

(c) State in detail and in chronological 
order what action you would take in the ab¬ 
sence of orders from a superior officer, as 
Captain of the truck company second due 
at this fire. 

ANS.:—(a) I would order the company 
to stretch a line to the location of the fire 
from the nearest hydrant, up the front 
stairway; get into the bedroom, start water 
and extinguish the fire. A few of the men 
to ventilate floor by opening the windows 
and doors. Generally a dash of water with 
the pipe opened full puts these bedroom 
fires out. 

(b) Would order 2 men to bring up extin¬ 
guishers, and get to the bedroom, and use 
them, and try and hold the fire from ex¬ 
tending until the arrival of the 1st Engine 
Company with their line. The rest of the 
men to ventilate the rooms and building; 
and to raise ladder at the front of the 
building, open the roof door and skylight, 
if necessary, to allow the heat and smoke 
out, and any other rooms on the other 
floors, if they were charged with smoke. 
When the engine company had the fire un¬ 
der control, I would do such overhauling 
and pulling down of plaster ceilings and 
walls as might be necessary, and make 
sure there were no sparks in any of the 
burnt material, or that fire had not ex¬ 
tended to the floor above. 

(c) I would order the men to remain out¬ 
side of the building, and go up to the room 
on fire, and report my presence, and if the 
rest of the companies were at work ex¬ 
tinguishing the fire, and I saw that the 
assistance of my company was required, 
such as in case of people being panic-strick¬ 
en, or fire extending, I would order the com¬ 
pany to ventilate the upper part of the 
building by getting up the stairway, or get¬ 
ting out on the rear fire escape, and go to 
top of the building and work down. Make 
an examination of the upper floors to make 
sure that the fire hadn’t gotten upstairs, 
and when meeting my superior officer or 
the officer in charge, report to him my 
actions. 


LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—You have been directed by the 
Chief of Battalion to make an inspection 
of the moving picture theaters in your com¬ 
pany district and to report to the Chief in 
what respects each fails to comply with 
the provisions of the new ordinance re¬ 
cently enacted by the Board of Aldermen. 
Prepare an outline of the essential provi¬ 
sions of this ordinance for your use in mak¬ 
ing this inspection. 

ANS.:—See that the owner had a license, 
which would mean that the building was in 
compliance with the requirements of the 
Fire, Building, Health and Water Supply, 
Gas and Electricity Departments, and that 
the license was granted by the Mayor. 

Not to be in a frame building within the 
fire limits, nor in hotels, tenements or lodg¬ 
ing houses, factories or workshops, except 
where separated by unpierced fireproof 
walls and floors, and not be above or below 
the ground floor of the building. 

At least two exits on the main floor, one 
in front and one in the rear, both leading 
to unobstructed outlets on the street. 

If the main floor accommodated more 
than 300 people, to be at least 3 exits. 

No exit to be less than five feet in width, 
and if a main exit, not less than ten feet 
in total width. If an unobstructed exit to 
a street cannot be provided in the rear, 
either an open court or a fireproof passage 
or corridor must be provided from rear 
exit to the street front, or at least four feet 
width, if accommodating 100 persons or 
less. For every additional 100 persons or 
less, width to be increased eight inches, and 
such passage to be constructed of fireproof 
materials. 

See that galleries are provided with at 
least one line of fire escape leading to an 
open court, fireproof passage or streets, 
without re-entering the same or any other 
building. If fire escape leads to a point 
in the court nearer the street than the exit, 
there must be a width of not less than 
four feet between the outer edge of the 
fire escape and the outer wall of the courts. 

All fire escapes must have all doors lead¬ 
ing to fire escapes and be not less than 
40 inches wide; balconies, not less than 
3 feet 4 inches wide, and not less than 4 
feet 6 inches long, and staircases extending 
to the ground, the width of the stairs be 
not less than 3 feet 4 inches. 

Apparatus for the moving pictures shall 
be enclosed in a booth or enclosure con¬ 
structed fireproof, equipped with a vent- 
flue, and to contain an approved fireproof 
box for the storage of the films. The 
films not to be stored in any other place 
on the premises, and to be rewound and 
repaired either in the booth, or some other 
approved fireproof enclosure. 

See that the seats were arranged as re¬ 
quired, not less than 32 inches from back 
to back, firmly secured to the floor. Not 
more than seven seats to intervene between 
it and an aisle, and all the aisles in the 


auditorium and gallery to be not less than 
3 feet wide and not obstructed by any 
chairs or stools, or any persons standing 
or sitting therein. 

Over every exit, signs painted on the in¬ 
side with letters at least 6 inches high, 
“Exit,” and one red light, or illuminated 
sign, placed inside over every exit, and il¬ 
luminated while the audience is present. 

The following portable fire appliances: 
10-quart buckets, painted red, word “Fire” 
in black letters 4 inches high. Six for 
places seating less than 300 without a gal¬ 
lery, and two additional if there be a gal¬ 
lery. Ten if seating over 300 people, and 
four additional if there be a gallery. Two 
buckets containing sand, to be kept in the 
operating room. 

Approved fire extinguishers, 2j4-gallon 
capacity, regulation F. D. pattern; two on 
the main floor, two in the gallery, if any, 
and one in the operating booth. 

Four-pound flat-head axes; two on the 
main floor, and two in the gallery (if there 
be one). 

Every portion of the moving picture 
theater, including exits, courts and corri¬ 
dors, shall be lighted by electric lights, until 
the entire audience has left. 

The booth in which machine is operated 
shall be provided with an opening in its 
roof, or upper part of its side walls, lead¬ 
ing to the outer air. Vent flue to be fire¬ 
proof, and booth when in use shall have a 
constant current of air passing outward 
through the opening. 

In existing places of entertainment seat¬ 
ing 300 or less where motion pictures are 
exhibited in conjunction with any other 
form of entertainment, they must comply, 
before a reissuance of its license, with the 
provisions of Sec. 109 of the Building Code, 
covering theaters seating over 300 people. 

Entrances to an exit from gallery shall 
in no case lead to the main floor, and gal¬ 
lery to be provided with a stairway with 
handrails on both sides of stairs. Stairs 
over 7 feet wide, with center hand rail. 
Total width of stairs to be not less than 
8 feet where gallery accommodates 150 
people. For every 50 people less, width 
may be reduced 1 foot. 

Ques. 2:—While serving as Acting Chief 
of Battalion at a fire in a tenement house 
at which three engine companies and two 
truck companies are at work, the Lieuten¬ 
ant of Police in command of the Police Re¬ 
serves asks you for instructions with refer¬ 
ence to the vehicles which he may permit 
to pass through the fire lines established 
by the police. Enumerate the vehicles that 
you would permit him to admit through 
the fire lines and give your reason for your 
answer. 

ANS.:—Fire apparatus, insurance patrol 
wagons, police vehicles, U. S. mail wagons, 
emergency railroad repair wagons (for re¬ 
pairs), and ambulances. I would inform 
the lieutenant to permit any of these ve¬ 
hicles through the fire lines, if they were 
in the actual performance of their duties, 


and also permit automobiles assigned to the 
Bureau of Fire Alarm Telegraph, when 
called to repair broken circuits. 

Ques. 3:—(a) In non-fireproof tenements 
five stories or more in height, exclusive of 
cellar, explain the kind of construction re¬ 
quired in the erection of the first floor 
above the lowest cellar. 

(b) In non-fireproof tenements less than 
five stories in height, what are the require¬ 
ments in the construction of the first floor 
above the lowest cellar? 

ANS.:—(a) If there is a store on the first 
floor, the entire second floor shall also be 
constructed fireproof. 

(b) If occupied by one or more families 
on any floor above the first, it shall have 
the first floor above the cellar, or lowest 
floor, constructed fireproof, as required in 
Sec. 106 of the Building Code, which is that 
the floors be constructed with wrought iron 
or steel floor beams, so arranged as to 
specing and length of beams that the load 
to be supplied by them, together with the 
weights of material used in the construc¬ 
tion, shall not cause a greater deflection 
than 1-30 of an inch per foot of span under 
the total load. 

Between the wrought iron or steel floor 
beams there shall also be placed brick 
arches from the lower flange of the steel 
beams to safely carry the load. 

The ceilings over every cellar in build¬ 
ings over four stories high, erected here¬ 
after, if the beams are of wood, shall be 
lathed with iron or wire lath and plastered 
with two coats of brown mortar or other 
fireproof material. 

In tenements which do not exceed four 
stories in height, and not arranged to be 
occupied by more than two families on 
any floor, the stair halls either shall be 
constructed of iron beams and fireproof 
filling, or shall be filled in between the floor 
beams with at least five inches of cement 
deafening. 

If it exceeds four stories, and is occu¬ 
pied by more than two families on any 
floor, all stair halls to be enclosed on all 
sides with brick walls, except one or more 
sides may be left open to the street, yard 
or court. 

Ques. 4:—State fully the main points you 
would take into consideration if you were 
lowing: 

(a) A grain elevator. 

(b) A storehouse for photographic sup¬ 
plies. 

(c) A sugar refinery. 

(d) A large dock used for passenger 
steamers. 

ANS.:—-(a) I would take in consideration 
the location, size, height and construction, 
and date of erection. 

If equipped with fire escapes and elevat¬ 
ors; if the stairways were enclosed; num¬ 
ber of persons in the building; what fire ap¬ 
pliances, and the location of them. 

Note the machinery and dust rooms; the 
methods for drying; how the materials 


were disposed of; if dust was permitted to 
accumulate; if any open lights were ex¬ 
posed which may cause the dust to ignite 
and cause explosions, and whether rubbish 
was allowed to remain on any floors, in¬ 
stead of being placed in metal receptacles. 
Note whether the grain cups were clogged 
with dust. 

(b) Note the usual general conditions, 
and in addition pay special attention to how 
alcohol and chemicals were stored. Note 
whether paper was kept near steam pipes, 
open gas jets, or otherwise in a warm or 
exposed place. Note method of keeping 
and disposing of ‘‘washes” used in develop¬ 
ing. Note whether any materials were such 
as required to be kept in vaults, and if a 
license was required for storage of any 
combustibles that the owner had same. 

(c) In addition to usual general condi¬ 
tions, examine thoroughly the heating and 
lighting systems, the drying rooms and the 
location and construction of char kilns. See 
if there were any dust accumulations; if 
ventilating or cooling systems were in 
proper condition; note open gas jets, if 
any. See if there was excessive weight of 
sugar or any of the floors. 

(d) The principal element of danger here 
would be accumulation of combustibles, 
dirt, etc., which would be aggravated by the 
certain presence of rats, and sparks from 
smokestacks of steamers. The large num¬ 
ber of transients creates many hazards due 
to carelessness. See that rule against 
smoking was strictly enforced, and that the 
place was kept scrupulously clean; free 
from dust, dirt, paper, waste, etc. Trucks 
and other conveyances leave tracks of 
grease, which must be carefully guarded 
against. Should be well ventilated. See 
that all fire appliances were in condition for 
immediate use. Look for barrels of oil or 
any dangerous combustibles. 

Ques. 5:—You are the Captain in com¬ 
mand of the company first due at a fire in a 
garage, caused by an explosion of gasolene. 

(a) Give the essential provisions of all 
the ordinances and regulations at present 
in force in this city which seek to prevent 
explosions of this kind. 

(b) State in detail what inspection you 
would make to determine whether there has 
been a violation of the law at the premises 
of the fire. 

(c) State what action you would take and 
what recommendations you would make 
after such inspection. 

ANS.:—(a) It is unlawful to store, house 
or keep within any motor vehicle containing 
volatile inflammable oils, except in a build¬ 
ing, shed or enclosure for which a permit 
is issuel by the Fire Commissioner, after 
the applicant complies with the specifica¬ 
tions and all the regulations. 

Garage not to be within 50 feet of the 
nearest wall of a building that is occupied 
as a school, theater or public amusement or 
assembly, as a tenement house or hotel, and 
must be constructed of fire-resisting mate¬ 
rial throughout. 


No paints, varnishes, etc., allowed to be 
manufactured, stored or kept for sale, nor 
any dry goods or other highly inflammable 
materials, manufactured, store or kept for 
sale. 

In garages where volatile inflammable 
oils are stored, must be constantly under 
the care and supervision of one or more 
persons, each holding a certificate of fit¬ 
ness, as a superintendent or manager there¬ 
of. 

Must be equipped with an oil separater, 
trap or similar apparatus attached to the 
house drain, for the purpose of preventing 
oils from flowing into the sewer. 

Oils from the storage tank to the motor 
vehicle must be delivered only by a port¬ 
able tank or directly through the outlet of 
a draw-off pipe. 

The storage tanks, portable tanks, oil 
separater, pump or similar apparatus must 
be of a type for which a certificate of ap¬ 
proval has been issued by the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner. 

Each storage tank must be imbedded in 
and surrounded by Portland cement con¬ 
crete, at least two feet below the level of 
the lowest cellar floor, within a radius of 
ten feet from the tank, not to be placed 
under the sidewalk, nor in front of the 
building line. Each tank to be equipped 
with a filling-pipe, drawing-off and a vent- 
piece. 

Portable tanks, capacity of not more than 
55 gallons, and discharge from the tank 
only through a hose, not exceeding 16 feet 
in length, having a shut-off valve close to 
the outlet or nozzle. 

If in a building occupied as a dwelling by 
the applicant, or one other tenant, or by 
applicant’s employee and one other tenant, 
provided that not more than two floors or 
stories above the garage are occupied for 
living purposes, and are separated from the 
garage by unpierced fireproof walls and 
floors, and all the motor vehicles stored or 
kept there shall be the property of the ap¬ 
plicant or immediate family, and none of 
these vehicles are let out for hire, and no 
volatile inflammable oils, except that con¬ 
tained in the tanks of the vehicles may be 
stored in the garage, unless it is constructed 
of fire-resisting material throughout; and 
no certificate of fitness shall be required of 
the person having supervision of such gar¬ 
ages. 

No pump or stationary outlet for deliv¬ 
ery of volatile inflammable oils shall be 
allowed on any floor below the street level, 
nor allowed to deliver oil to a tank of a 
motor vehicle while on the floor of the 
garage below the street level, unless the 
ventilation on such floor is satisfactory to 
the Fire Commissioner. 

No barrel is permitted in the garage; oil 
must be delivered direct to the storage tank, 
through the filling pipe. 

Each oil separator to be connected to the 
house drain, so arranged as to separate all 
oils from the drainage of the garage, and 
the oil receptacle not to exceed 50 gallons 
capacity, and to be emptied as often as may 


121 


be necessary to prevent overflow, such oils 
as are recovered to be removed from the 
garage within 24 hours. 

All oils spilled on the floor to be removed 
by sponging or swabbing, and poured into 
the drain leading to the oil separator. 

Artificial lights, including incandescent 
electric lights, must be of a type for which 
a certificate of approval has been issued by 
the Fire Commissioner. 

“Smoking Unlawful” signs, with a copy 
of the section displayed in conspicuous 
places on each floor. 

Must be equipped with fire buckets filled 
with sand, and kept on each floor for ex¬ 
tinguishing fires. 

A quantity of sand also to be kept on 
floor for absorbing waste oils. 

Each floor equipped with self-closing 
metal cans, and all inflammable waste ma¬ 
terial kept therein until removed from the 
building. 

All calcium carbide stored in the garage 
to be kept in water-tight metal containers, 
with securely fastened covers, and not to 
exceed 120 pounds at any time. 

In the repair shops of a garage it is un¬ 
lawful to store or keep for sale any in¬ 
flammable oils or calcium carbide. Must 
not have in the tanks of any motor vehicle 
any volatile inflammable oils, unless the 
building is constructed of fire-resisting ma¬ 
terial throughout. 

No stove, torch, boiler, flame or fire, and 
no electric sparking device or electric 
motors be located in the garage, unless en¬ 
closed in a fireproof enclosure. 

(b) I would look for the superintendent 
or manager, and make a thorough investi¬ 
gation. Find out where the fire started and 
how it originated. Find out if any of the 
lamps were lit while they were filling the 
tank; if any of the employees or chauffeurs 
were smoking; if there was any gasolene in 
open containers. Examine the metal cans, 
also see if there was sand in the metal buck¬ 
ets for use in extinguishing fire. See if 
the calcium carbide was properly located. 
Examine every person who may have been 
in the garage when the fire started, and 
question each one to ascertain the cause 
of fire. Find out how many vehicles were 
in the garage, how business was, and how 
much insurance was carried. 

(c) If I found any violations of law to 
justify it, would recommend cancellation of 
permit. If I found that fire was suspicious, 
would recommend investigation by the Fire 
Marshal. I would forward duplicate re¬ 
ports, with names of witnesses interviewed 
attached thereto. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
Weight 2. 

Ques. 1:—Enumerate the provisions of 
the Rules and Regulations of the Depart¬ 
ment with reference to: 

(a) The display of the national standard 
on company quarters. 

(b) The keeping of animals in quarters. 


(c) The taking of apparatus from quar¬ 
ters. 

ANS.:—(a) The national standard shall 
be displayed on company quarters from 
sunrise to sunset as follows: 

At the peak on January 1st, February 
12th and 22nd, April 27th, June 14th, July 
4th, first Monday in September, October 
12th, each General Election Day, Thanks¬ 
giving Day, December 25th, and such other 
days as may be designated as holidays by 
the President of the United States or the 
Governor of the State of New York. 

On formal visits of the Governor of New 
York State, Mayor of the City, Fire Com¬ 
missioner, or an inspecting officer, and 
when officially directed to do so. 

At half-mast on May 30th and on receipt 
of official notice of the death of an officer 
holding a distinguished position in the 
National, State or City Government, the 
Fire Commissioner, an officer of the De¬ 
partment, or any member of the uniformed 
force who may lose his life in discharge of 
the duty, until sunset the day of the funeral. 

The national standard shall not be dis¬ 
played at any other time or under any other 
circumstances, nor shall it ever be loaned. 

(b) See that the horses are properly 
taken care of, drilled and handled; promptly 
account for same and not allow any other 
animals in quarters, except one dog, one 
cat and singing birds. 

(c) Apparatus shall not be taken from 
quarters, except on alarms of fire, by order 
of the Chief of Department, or for com¬ 
pany drill. 

Ques. 2:—Describe in detail the duty of 
a company commander in the matter of re¬ 
ceiving feed or forage delivered at the com¬ 
pany quarters. 

ANS.:—Carefully examine and have 
weighed in his presence all hay, straw, oats 
and feed that may be delivered at quar¬ 
ters; see that it is correct as to weight, 
count and measure; refuse to receipt for 
any that does not fully and entirely com¬ 
ply with the standard, and notify the clerk 
in charge of the Bureau of Repairs and Sup¬ 
plies, as well as inspecting officers, imme¬ 
diately of any neglect to furnish the proper 
standard, and enter weight of each bale in 
company journals. 

Net weight only to be receipted for in 
all cases. Deduct one pound from the 
weight of each bag for the weight of the 
container. 

In all cases where the weight or quality 
of the feed is not fully up to the standard, 
it will be rejected by commanding officers, 
and inspecting officers in the various bor¬ 
oughs are directed to supervise the quality 
of the forage in each particular and reject 
all of inferior quality or grade which may 
have been accepted, and report all cases 
requiring such action to the Commission¬ 
ers. Commanding officers shall not receive 
or receipt for forage after dark or on rainy 
days without permission from the Bureau 
of Repairs and Supplies. 


122 


Forage rejected by commanding officers-g^the commanding officer, in the exercise of 
for failure to comply with the rules will,“‘ his best judgment, may elect to remain with 
when replaced and accepted, be made the his company at such fire so discovered, in 
subject of a written report forthwith by which event he shall immediately notify 
commanding officers to the clerk in charge Headquarters; but only one company shall 
of the Bureau of Repairs and Supplies, and so remain. 


inspecting officers. 

Ques. 3:—Explain in full the precautions 
that should be observed by those in charge 
of engines proceeding to fires, so that in 
crowded thoroughfares, at dangerous cross¬ 
ings, under elevated railroad structures, and 
in other difficult situations, the public as 
well as the firemen may be exposed to the 
least possible danger. 

ANS.:—To guard against collisions and 
accidents when proceeding to fires, the 
bells, sirens and gongs on all apparatus 
shall be sounded at short intervals, and al¬ 
ways when approaching a crossing (except 
while passing hospitals, or churches and 
theaters during performances); For this 
purpose a wire or cord shall be kept ad¬ 
justed to the bells of engines leading back 
to the handrail on rear of boilers. 

All proper dispatch shall be used in 
reaching fires consistent with safety. Of¬ 
ficers of companies shall direct and hold 
the drivers and chauffeurs responsible for 
any reckless driving while going to or re¬ 
turning from fires or alarms. 

When turning corners or turning from 
one railroad track to another, especially in 
streets where there are columns of the ele¬ 
vated railroads, drivers and chauffeurs 
shall lessen the speed, even to a walk or 
stop, if necessary. When the speed of the 
apparatus is impeded by crowded thorough¬ 
fares, or at dangerous crossings, ohe or 
more members shall precede the apparatus. 
When near the station or fire, the com¬ 
manding officer shall take the lead. Com¬ 
manding officers shall prefer charges in all 
cases where the blame may be imputed for 
accidents or collisions. 

Ques. 4:—While on the way to a fire in 
answer to an alarm or special call you dis¬ 
cover another fire. Tell under the different 
conditions to which such a situation may 
give rise, the action you would take in each 
instance, and state any special instructions 
you would give, which might be called for 
by your course of action. 

ANS.:—Upon the receipt of an alarm of 
fire, or a special call, still alarm or other 
notice, companies shall proceed directly to 
the fire which such alarm, call or notice 
calls them. But in case while so reporting 
they discover another fire, the commanding 
officer of the company shall leave a mem¬ 
ber at the fire so discovered, and if neces¬ 
sary said member so left shall send in an 
alarm from the nearest fire alarm box. If 
confronted with extraordinary conditions, 


(Signal 13 shall not be transmitted un¬ 
less the apparatus is actually out of serv¬ 
ice.) 

Ques. 5:—(a) What are the duties of 
members of the Fire Department in cases 
of fires of an incendiary or suspicious 
origin? 

(b) While performing the duty of polic¬ 
ing in and about company quarters, what 
care must be exercised by the members? 

(c) If an accident occurs to a member 
in company quarters, what is the duty of 
commanding officers? 

(d) If the driver of a United States mail 
wagon should drive unnecessarily over a 
line of hose, what action, as company com¬ 
mander, would you take? 

ANS.:—(a) Members shall endeavor to 
detect incendiaries in cases of fires of sus¬ 
picious origin, and avoid publicly express¬ 
ing opinions on the cases or their circum¬ 
stances. The Battalion Chiefs or other of¬ 
ficers in charge of such fires shall, with¬ 
out delay, notify the Fire Marshal, and 
place in charge of the premises a fireman, 
who shall remain in charge of the same 
until the arrival of the Fire Marshal or his 
Assistants, with instructions to prevent any 
disturbance whatever of existing conditions. 
Act quietly and carefully. Endeavor to ob¬ 
tain evidence to convict persons bringing 
or sending false alarms for fire. 

(b) While performing the duty of polic¬ 
ing in or about company quarters, members 
shall not stand on window-sills, lintels, cor¬ 
nices or projections of any kind, except 
when equipped with a belt and held in 
the same manner as instructed at and pre¬ 
scribed in the School of Instruction when 
climbing by pairs. In case an accident oc¬ 
curs in or about company quarters result¬ 
ing in injury, it will be considered a vio¬ 
lation of this rule, unless it can be clearly 
shown that precautionary measures had 
been taken to avoid accident. 

(c) Shall immediately report any acci¬ 
dent, sickness or injury to members of their 
commands to their immediate superiors at 
the time of occurrence, stating the cause of 
the same and the extent of the injury, no 
matter whether slight or serious. 

(d) Shall make a special report, if any 
driver of a United States mail wagon 
drives over any line of hose unnecessarily, 
stating if such driver’s destination was 
within fire lines and in what direction he 
was going. Also identity of driver, etc. 


REPORT. 

Weight 1. 

(To be finished by 5.30 P. M.X 

Ques.:—Write a report addressed to the 
Chief of the Fire Department stating the 
effect upon the Department and upon the 
public welfare of the reduction in the num¬ 
ber of incendiary fires, pointing out espe¬ 
cially how these fires have been suppressed 
and what additional measures are advisable 
to abolish them completely. 

(N. B. 1:—In rating this report the chief 
consideration will be given to the knowl¬ 
edge of the subject displayed by the can¬ 
didate, but consideration will be given also 
to clearness and conciseness of expression. 
Elaborate discussions are not desired. Use 
enough words to express your ideas and 
no more.) 

(N. B. 2:—Do not sign any name, num¬ 
ber, title or initial to this report. If you 
do, you will be disqualified.) 

ANSWER: 

New York, Aug. 12, 1913. 

John Kenlon, 

Chief of Department. 

Sir:— 

The effect of the reduction in the num¬ 
ber of incendiary fires on the Department 
has been to conserve the life and health of 
its members through lessening the number 
of times they had to expose themselves to 
danger. The effect on Department appa¬ 
ratus has been to save wear and tear; also 
an economy of fuel. 

As incendiary fires are usually started at 
night, many lives which might have been 
lost have been saved. 

Property owners and insurance com¬ 
panies have saved hundreds of thousands of 
dollars, and business has been saved from 
the serious interruption caused by fires 
when stores are on the premises. 

These fires have been suppressed by vigi¬ 
lant efforts on the part of the Fire Com¬ 
missioner, the Bureau of Fire Marshal, the 
Bureau of Fire Prevention, and the insur¬ 
ance companies. The Fire Commissioner 
has called particular attention to the loose 
methods of issuing policies without investi¬ 
gation, and this has led the insurance com¬ 
panies to greater caution. The Fire Mar¬ 
shal, by able work, has discovered gangs 
of firebugs and secured their conviction. 
The Bureau of Fire Prevention, through its 
inspections, has reduced the hazards. 

I recommend that insurance companies 
be required to investigate in each case be¬ 
fore issuing a policy and that they be re¬ 
quired to report to the Fire Commissioner 
on each policy issued, so that the Fire Pre¬ 
vention Bureau, or Bureau of the Fire 
Marshal, could investigate whenever it 
might appear advisable; and that the Fire 
Commissioner be given power by law to 
order the cancellation of any risky insur¬ 
ance. 


I recommend that the force of Fire Pre¬ 
vention Inspectors and Assistant Fire Mar¬ 
shals be substantially increased, and that 
the work of the Fire Prevention Bureau 
and of the Bureau of Buildings and Tene¬ 
ment House Department be harmonized, 
so that there may be perfect co-operation. 

Respectfully submitted, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN. 

Fire Department. 

Date: August 12, 1913. 
ANSWERS BY LIEUT. EDW. QUINN, 

Who Attained the Highest Mental 
Average. 

(NOTE:—The answers only will be here 
given, as the questions are given in the set 
of answers preceding this.) 

ADMINISTRATION. 

(Received 91 per cent, in this subject.) 

ANS. 1 and 2:—Upon arrival at a fire of 
this kind I would immediately order the 
first two engine companies to hydrant to 
connect and stretch 3-inch line from each 
engine to standpipe on (B) street. One 
engine to connect to hydrant (D) and the 
other to hydrant (L). Send company first 
to arrive up stairway on (B) street with 
two lengths of company hose; connect same 
to outlet of standpipe on sixth floor and 
proceed by stairway to the seventh floor to 
seat of fire. Second company to go up same 
stairway, taking four lengths of company 
hose, connect same to standpipe outlet on 
fifth floor and follow up first company, us¬ 
ing line up well hole of stairway and ele¬ 
vator shaft to kill fire and advance up stair¬ 
way as fast as possible. 

The last two companies to respond I 
would have engines of same connect to wa¬ 
ter tower (3-inch lines on B); first raise 
same in position in front of building, and 
start water with orders to give all pressure 
possible; cover all windows in front of 
building where any fire was showing. 

The companies themselves I would order 
third due to go to 12th floor by way of ele¬ 
vator on (A) street end of building, taking 
four lengths of company hose, connect same 
to standpipe outlet on 12th floor and work 
around to where fire is on west side of 
building. 

The last company I would place on the 
11th floor, with same orders to stretch line 
from standpipe on east stairway and work 

a r°t Un M^ hrough this floor to the west side 
of building. The last two companies’ work 
would be to prevent further mushrooming 
°J. "re on the two top floors. Engine of 
third due company to connect to hydrant 
(C) and engine of last company to hydrant 


124 




The first truck company to open doors 
fronting on (B) street, then proceed up 
stairway on (B) street, to open up doors for 
engine company through building and assist 
these companies in getting lines up the 
stairs. 

The second due truck company I would 
order to proceed by elevator on east side 
of building to open up roof over stairway 
and elevated shaft on west side of building, 
and open doors, etc., for engine companies 
at work on 11th and 12th floors. 

In meantime I would order a third alarm 
sent out. 

On arrival of these companies I would 
order first two engines connected to Siam¬ 
ese connection on (A) street, one engine to 
hydrant (F), the other engine to hydrant 
(A), and have companies proceed by ele¬ 
vator on east side of building with enough 
hose to reach from outlet on 10th floor and 
9th floor, respectively, and work way 
through to stairs and shaft on west side of 
building to cut off fire on these floors. 

The remaining companies arriving on this 
alarm, third due to connect to hydrant (G) 
and stretch line up stairway (A) to 12th 
floor; assist company already there. 

The last company to arrive on this alarm 
I would order to connect to hydrant (H), 
stretch line the same as other company up 
stairway to 9th floor and work around to 
west side of building. Have truck company 
on this alarm help in stretching lines and 
do necessary opening of doors to allow the 
engine companies to get through floors 
where same are at work. 

The truck companies arriving on first 
alarm after opening up and assisting in get¬ 
ting line to work could be used to stretch 
additional lines to water tower, and also a 
line each from staandpioe outlet on stair¬ 
way of east side of building on the 8th and 
7th floors to hold fire until arrival of help. 

In the meantime I would have a fourth 
alarm sent out, and when companies arrive 
first one I would stretch from hydrant 
marked (I) to stairway on west side of 
building and up this stairway to top of 
building. The other company arriving I 
would order to stretch line to water tower 
on (B) street from hydrant marked (B). 
The last truck company arriving I would 
order to assist the company stretching up 
stairwav from hydrant marked (I) to top 
of building; also to do such work of open¬ 
ing up doors and general overhauling of 
truck work which may be necessary. 

ANS. 3:—(a) I would first use an axe to 
cut up wood flooring, if necessary, for two 
or three feet square, to give proper room 
to make hole in fireproof flooring. After 
cutting up wood floor, take a chisel with 
sledge to remove the covering or upper 
surface of concrete, if any, over cinders. 
After making the necessary opening of 
about a foot square in concrete, get a shovel 
and remove cinders. Then take battering 
ram and picks to start the brickwork of 
each, taking out keystone of arch and use 
ram to drive hole in arch. It is always 


best to get the centre of such arches, if pos¬ 
sible, as this is their weakest place. 

(b) I would have a pipe on top of pilot 
house got ready; also the one on tower 
mast; also stretch lines from battery to 
mail pipes. Have monitor and all available 
nozzles and stream got ready, and proceed 
with boat to north side of pier, going in slip 
past fire to try to prevent fire from going 
toward shore, connecting to boats or pier 
above, if possible. Get a hawser from boat 
to shore to hold boat against back pres¬ 
sure from lines. 

ANS. 4:—(a) The distance from the front 
of a building for a 35-foot ladder is: The 
butt of same should be 9 feet distant. The 
rule of finding same is to divide length of 
ladder by 5 and add 2. 

(b) A 75-foot ladder raised to a window 
60 feet from the ground should be raised 63 
feet. This would allow the ladder to go in 
windows about V/z feet at a distance of 1 
foot from building. The distance for the 
truck from building would be 14 feet 6 
inches. The way to determine that ladder 
is in line with a window is to place hub of 
front wheel of truck in front of window de¬ 
sired and raise bed ladder of truck full 
height and extend fly ladder 15 rounds above 
bed ladder, which would give proper height; 
then lower same to 1 foot from building. 

(c) The rule taught in Fire Department 
to find nozzle pressure is to square the di¬ 
ameter of nozzle, multiply this by 29.9 and 
divide the answer into the number of gal¬ 
lons’ flow at nozzle. This answer will be 
the square root of nozzle pressure; when 
multiplied by itself will give nozzle pres¬ 
sure. 

Example: 

1.5 2.25 67.275)672.000(10, sq. root of 

1.5 29.9 672 pressure 

-> - - of nozzle. 

2.25 67.275 10 X 10 = 100 lbs. at noz. 

Use constant 29.9 for fresh water. 

29.7 for salt water. 

(d) 2, Prelim, for Bor. of Bronx; 3, spe¬ 
cial building; 4, high pressure breakdown 
at fire and prelim, for Bor. of Queens; 5. 
call for engine, companies; 6, hose wagon 
of comp, and high pressure hose wagon; 7, 
hook and ladder company; 8, fuel wagons: 
9, water towers; 10, pneumatic signal; 11, 
test; 12, fire patrol; 13, accident or apparatus 
out of service; 14, searchlight engine; 15, 
automatic signal: 16, boat tenders; 17, auto¬ 
matic; 18, chemical engine: 19, automatic; 
2-2, second alarm; 3-3, third alarm;. 4-4, 
fourth alarm; 5-5, fifth alarm; 9-9, simul¬ 
taneous call; 6-6, boro, call for Manhattan: 

7- 7, boro, call for Brooklyn and Queens; 

8- 8, boro, call for Richmond; 2-2-2, pay sig¬ 
nal, also used for still taps when preceding 
companv number over telegraph; 3-3-3, pay 
signal for chiefs to report at paymaster’s 
office only: 4-4-4, ambulance call; 5-5-5, call 
for company sapper and miners’ corps; 
5-5-5-5, call for whole corps; 6-6-6, high 






pressure breakdown; 9-9-9, high pressure 
again in service; 3-3-3-3, special call for 
new preceding station—division men are 
wanted from and number of men, last one 
of which shall be an officer; 4-4-4,• company- 
number return to service. 

ANS. 5:—To get the best results I would 
stretch two lines of 3-inch hose, 5 lengths, 
put in a 3-inch Siamese connection, then 1 
length of 3-inch hose for a lead line, put on 
nozzle, open 1^-inch smooth bore. I would 
require approximately 89-pound nozzle 
pressure and about 126 pounds at engine 
or pressure at pumps. Use Paradox pipe 
holder and nozzle. 

ANS. 6:—-I would leave apparatus at foot 
of hill, and if not possible to get hose wag¬ 
ons up the hill, I would order companies to 
stretch by hand. If companies were 
equipped with 3-inch hose, I would order 
same stretched from each engine up the hill 
as far as it would reach, then put on a Y 
connection on 3-inch hose and take two 2 y 2 - 
inch line from same. In doing this you get 
four lines out of the two engines arriving. 

In the meantime send the truck compa¬ 
nies to open doors of buildings for compa- 
ies to make entrance. Send enough men of 
truck company to roof of building on fire, 
with instructions to open roof of same on a 
line with the partitions between the build¬ 
ing each side. Also to open the cornice in 
front of building in same way. In doing 
this you make an outlet for fire if it gets 
into space under roof beams, and prevent it 
from mushrooming. But if when the truck 
company reaches the roof and opens same 
and finds fire already gone past the place of 
opening, it should be sent to the second 
building each side of the one afire and open 
up the roofs of each of these buildings form¬ 
ing an outlet for fire. The same action 
should be taken with the cornice. 

If fire was of such calibre and extending, 
I would send second and third alarms, as 
it is better to have help at hand than to 
wait for it when a fire is burning rapidly. 

The lines of engines, I would send one 
line into building on fire, one line on build¬ 
ing each , side of fire to prevent extension 
to same, and one line to roof to check fire in 
space under same if it should reach this 
point. These lines would hold such fire un¬ 
til arrival of help or additional companies 
responding. 

ANS. 7:—(a) As Captain of an engine 
company first due, I would order line 
stretched to location of fire, and start water. 
Order the truck company first to arrive 
to open doors and send men in to ventilate 
the apartment, either by going through 
same or through lower floor by way of fire 
escape to rear windows. Send one man of 
this company to top of building to open up 
bulkhead and remove skylight, which would 
ventilafe entire upper part of building 
through well hole of stairs. The second 
due engine company I would, in case it 
was needed, order their line stretched up 


rear fire escape to floor where fire is, and 
operate from fire escape, going in on floor 
as soon as possible. 

Send second truck company to floor over 
fire to look over same, and be sure that fire 
had not extended to this floor, and in case 
the floor is charged with smoke have same 
ventilated. 

The next engine company I would have, 
if necessary, stretch line up in front of 
building by fire escape or other means, 
either stairway or rear fire escape, to go 
above to the top of building if needed. 

Fires like this are very often dangerous 
when occurring in rear rooms, some of 
which are located on air shafts, where the 
windows of adjoining buildings are very 
often left open or unprotected, in which 
these fires communicate from one building 
to another. Rooms located like this are 
the places where an officer has to watch 
out for such things, where a fire may only 
be in one room of a house, still with an 
adjoining house and a window close by 
often causes the fire to so extend to the 
next building. 

Another point to be watched in these rear 
rooms when located on air-shafts is the 
number of clothes-lines which occupants in 
such airshafts use. When fires break out. 
of windows the clothes-lines carry the fire 
by clothing on same to the upper floors, 
where it communicates with open windows, 
window shades and curtains, thereby going 
in on the different floors. This is a point 
in the kind of a fire mentioned that an offi¬ 
cer who is looking out for his business 
will surely look for, and have such a place 
covered. While a new law, tenement is 
supposed to be a building in which there is 
no chance of fire extending from one floor 
to another. Still I mention the above risks 
and points to show too much care cannot 
be exercised in properly covering all points 
of any building, no matter how good a 
building or how near fireproof it may be. 

(b) As Captain of a truck company first 
due, I would order a ladder placed in front 
of building, as called for by rules. Order 
the first due engine company stretch line to 
location of fire and start water, sending 
two men with engine company to open 
doors for them. Send two men to top of 
building to open bulkhead and remove sky¬ 
light over stairway, either by going up 
through the next building or by way of 
stairs or fire escapes to top floor to ventilate 
same and reach the roof. In case the build¬ 
ings adjoining are not the same height as 
they are where fire is, have the men who 
open doors for engine company and other 
men ventilate apartment, either by going 
through same or by way of one below and 
up rear fire escape and open windows. 
Have second due engine company stretch 
line, if necessary, up rear fire escape to 
place where fire is going in on floor and 
rooms where possible. Also have third due 
engine company stretch line by way of front 
fire escape, or, if not any, by rear to top of 
building, as mentioned in answer to sub¬ 
division (a) of this answer. 


126 



(c) As Captain of truck second due, in ab¬ 
sence of superior officer, I would on arrival 
ascertain what officer was in charge at time 
of my arrival, and if I was the only Captain 
at fire I would assume command at fire and 
give orders in reference to handling of 
same, placing companies as stated in previ¬ 
ous answers. 

But if other Captains were at hand, re¬ 
port to one in charge for orders, and upon 
not receiving explicit orders from same I 
would proceed to look over buildings just 
by going to floors above up to top of build¬ 
ing to see if any fire had gone up, and when 
place is badly charged would see that build¬ 
ing was properly ventilated, as should be 
done by any truck company, and report my 
action upon return to officer in charge at 
fire. 

In cases where occupants of building be¬ 
come panic stricken, seeing a large body of 
smoke issuing up through building, the duty 
of officer of second due truck company 
should be to pacify people as much as pos¬ 
sible and assist them from building. This 
work can be done with a few men; if com¬ 
pany is properly divided up a lot of work 
can be done. There is an order in the De¬ 
partment for second due truck company, 
etc., when arriving at fire for the officers 
to leave their men in the street and report 
for orders, the men not to enter the build¬ 
ing until ordered to do so. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

(Received 99 per cent, in this subject.) 

ANS. 1:—(a) The national standard shall 
be displayed on company quarters from sun¬ 
rise to sunset at the peak on January 1, Feb¬ 
ruary 12 and 22; April 27, June 14. July 4, 
first Monday in September, October 12, 
each general election day, Thanksgiving 
day, December 25, and on such other days 
as the President of the United States or the 
Governor of State of New York may des¬ 
ignate as holidays; on formal visit of the 
Governor of State of New York, the Mayor 
of New York, the Fire Commissioner or an 
inspecting officer, and when officially di¬ 
rected to do so. At half-mast, May 30, and 
on official notice of the death of an officer 
holding a distinguished position in the Na¬ 
tional, State or City government, Fire Com¬ 
missioner; an officer of the Department or 
any member of the uniformed force who 
may lose his life in discharge of duty until 
sunset the day of his funeral. The national 
standard shall not be displayed at any other 
time. 

(b) Officers shall see that the horses are 
properly drilled, handled and taken care of, 
promptly account for same, and no other 
animals allowed in quarters except one dog, 
one cat and singing birds. 

(c) Apparatus shall not be taken from 
quarters except on alarms of fire, order of 
Chief of Department or company drill. 

ANS. 2:—Officers shall examine carefully, 
and have weighed in their presence, all hay, 


feed, straw, oats and forage that may be 
delivered at quarters; see that same is cor¬ 
rect as to weight, count and measure; re¬ 
fuse to receipt for any forage that does not 
comply with the standard. Notify the clerk 
in charge of Bureau of Repairs and Supplies 
immediately of any neglect to furnish the 
proper standard. The weight of each bale 
shall be entered in company journals. Net 
weight shall be receipted for only, and in 
receiving oats — pounds shall be deducted 
for weight of container. Following is stand¬ 
ard: Hay, $1.00; Straw, Long Rye, Oats, 
$2.00; white clipped Bran, fresh, clean, 
sweet. If weight, count, or quality of feed 
is not up to standard, same shall be rejected 
by officers. Commanding officers shall not 
receive or receipt for feed or forage after 
dark or on rainy days, except by permission 
from Bureau of Repairs and Supplies. 
Where forage is rejected by officers, when 
same is replaced and accepted, it shall be 
made subject of special report to clerk in 
charge Bureau of Repairs and Supplies. The 
rules call for inspecting officers to super¬ 
vise inspection of forage, etc. 

ANS. 3;—To prevent accidents and colli¬ 
sions when responding to fires, the sirens, 
bells, whistles and gongs on apparatus shall 
be sounded at short intervals, and upon ap¬ 
proaching a dangerous crossing. A rope or 
cord attached to bells on engines shall lead 
back to rear of boiler so officers can ring 
same. It is expected that companies reach 
a fire as quickly as possible, but with proper 
precaution for safety. The sounding of 
bells, sirens, etc., shall be done except when 
passing theaters, hospitals and churches, 
during services or performances. Officers 
shall direct and hold chauffeurs and drivers 
responsible for reckless driving while go¬ 
ing to or returning from fires. In turning 
corners or turning from one R. R. track to 
another, chauffeurs shall slacken speed, even 
to a walk, if necessary. In crowded streets 
or thoroughfares or approaching dangerous 
crossings, one or more members shall pre¬ 
cede the apparatus and when reaching the 
station or fire the officer shall take the lead. 
In all cases where driver or chauffeurs are 
to be blamed, commanding officer shall pre¬ 
fer charges. 

ANS. 4:—While responding to an alarm 
of fire, special call or still alarm or other 
notice of fire, companies should proceed di¬ 
rectly to fire which such alarm or notice 
calls them. But in case while so reporting 
they shall discover a second fire the officer 
in charge of company shall leave a man at 
fire so discovered, and give the member so 
left instructions to send in alarm from the 
nearest fire alarm box, if necessary] but 
if the officer meets with unusual conditions 
at a fire so discovered he may in his best 
judgment decide to remain at such fire,, in 
which case he shall notify headquarters im¬ 
mediately, but only one company shall so 
remain. The signal 13 shall not be trans¬ 
mitted unless the apparatus is actually out 
of service. 


127 


ANS. 5:—(a) Members should endeavor 
tc detect incendiaries in cases of fires of a 
suspicious origin, avoid publicly expressing 
opinion on the case or its circumstances. 
All officers in charge of fires shall immedi¬ 
ately and without delay notify the Fire 
Marshal of all such fires, and place in 
charge of premises a trustworthy Fireman, 
who shall remain in charge of same until 
the arrival of the Fire Marshal. The Fire¬ 
man shall be instructed to, prevent any dis¬ 
turbance of articles on premises, so the Fire 
Marshal shall be able to collect the proper 
evidence, act quietly and carefully in order 
to obtain additional evidence in each case 
which would assist the Fire Marshal in con¬ 
victing the guilty persons. 

(b) While performing duty of policing in 
and about company quarters, the members 
so doing shall not climb on cornices, lintels, 
windowsills or any other projection unless 
they are equipped with a lifebelt held from 
the inside, as taught in the School of In¬ 
struction, when climbing in pairs. Any ac¬ 
cident occurring in and about quarters re¬ 
sulting in any injury will be considered 
in violation of this rule, unless the 
members so injured can show that the 
proper precaution was taken in performing 
such work. 

(c) Commanding Officer should report 
without delay all accidents to members of 
company in quarters, making an immediate 
investigation of cause of same, notifying the 
Chief of Department by telephone and 
special report, and make proper entries in 
company journal as record of such accident, 
and in case injury requires the attention of 
medical officer, same shall be notified of 
case. If serious, and the member must be 
sent to hospital, making a call for an am¬ 
bulance^ necessary, same shall be embodied 
in special report to Chief of Department, 
giving the particulars of the case. Another 
rule of the Department requires that mem¬ 
bers shall immediately report any accident, 
injury or sickness of themselves to their 
immediate superior at time it happens, 
giving the cause and extent of same, no 
matter how slight or serious. 

(d) Commanding Officer shall make a 
special report if any driver of United 
States mail wagon shall run over any line 
of hose, immediately, giving in such report 
the destination of driver, and if same was 
within the fire lines, also in what direction 
he was going, as an extra for evidence to 
be sure of the right driver, I would en¬ 
deavor to obtain his name, also the number 
of wagon he was driving. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

(Received 83 per cent, in this subject.) 

ANS. 1:—The provisions of the new law 
quote that a moving picture theater shall 
not be allowed in frame buildings within 
the fire limits, nor in a lodging house, tene¬ 
ment, factory or workshops near hotel, un¬ 
less the part used for the moving picture 
is separated from the rest of the building by 


unpierced approved fire walls and floors, and 
no moving picture shall be used or oper¬ 
ated above or below the ground floor. 

All such theaters must be provided with 
at least two separate exits. One shall be in 
front and one in rear, both of which shall 
lead to unobstructed alleys to the street. If 
the main floor of premises seats more than 
300 people, then there shall be not less than 
three exits. The width of same shall be not 
less than 1-20 of the number of persons seat¬ 
ing capacity; no exit shall be less than 5 feet 
wide and no main exit less than 10 feet in 
total width. If any building to be erected 
or altered to be used as a moving picture 
theatre, and an unobstructed exit cannot be 
had at rear, then an open court or fireproof 
passage must be provided from rear of 
place to street; 4 feet clear for places of 100 
persons capacity or less, and extra 8 inches 
for each extra 100 persons. 

Any fireproof passage constructed must 
be 10 feet high in the clear; the walls 8 
inches thick, of brick or other fireproof ma¬ 
terial. All extra doors must be kept un¬ 
locked when place is open to public, and 
same shall open outward. If place has a 
gallery, fire escapes leading from same 
must have balconies at least 3 feet 4 inches 
wide and 4 feet 6 inches long, and stair 
leading from same to ground shall not be 
less than 3 feet 6 inches wide. 

No place shall have a gallery except built 
on a lot over 20 feet wide. The gallery shall 
not seat more than % the entire seating 
. capacity of theater. The entrance from such 
gallery shall not lead into main floor of the¬ 
ater, and stair of gallery shall have rails on 
both sides of stairs, and more than 7 feet. 
wide shall have a center hand rail. No cir¬ 
cular stairs shall be allowed. If a gallery 
seats more than 150 people, the stairs must 
be 8 feet wide; same can be reduced 1 foot 
less for each 50 people less than 150. Stairs 
must be fireproof and of such bearing capac¬ 
ity as required by Building Department. 

The ceiling of auditorium or other rooms 
must be plastered with three coats of good 
plaster or wire mesh or mid cloth, or covered 
with 11-inch plaster board. 

If a basement under auditorium, the same 
shall be kept clear except for heating appa¬ 
ratus or machinery that is necessary for 
storage of coal. 

Booths must be constructed as required by 
law and to be equipped with a rail flue of 
at least 500 square inches, cross section to 
be fireproof. The booth shall contain 42 
square feet for one machine, and 24 square 
feet for each extra additional machine over 
one. . An approved fireproof box shall be 
kept in booth for storage of films not in use, 
and same shall not be stored in any other 
place, and shall be rewound and repaired in 
booth or other fireproof enclosure. 

Chairs shall be 32 inches from back to 
back and be firmly secured to floor. No seat 
shall, have more than 7 seats between it and 
an aisle; seats shall be separated by aisles. 
All aisles .must be not less than 3 feet wide, 
and no aisle, passage or space at rear of 
seats shall be obstructed by chairs, etc. No 
person shall be allowed to stand therein. 


Fire appliances shall consist of 6 fire buck¬ 
ets; “fire” painted on same in places of 300, 
and 10 buckets in places over 300, and 4 
extra in gallery, if any. Two buckets of 
sand in booth, and fire extinguishers, 2 on 
main floor, 2 in gallery and 1 in booth. Two 
4-pounds flathead axes on main floor and 2 
in gallery. 

No radiator shall be placed in any aisle in 
such a way as to lessen aisle space below the 
required width. If oil or gas stove or other 
heater apparatus be used, a fireproof flue 
shall be arranged to carry the excess heat 
to the open air. 

ANS. 2:—I would permit U. S. mail wag¬ 
ons carrying mail, if destination was within 
fire lines or they could not reach destination 
any other way without passing, fire lines. 
Ambulances, while conveying patients or in¬ 
jured persons or proceeding to an accident, 
where person may be injured, or to doctor 
or other persons carrying police permits 
whose business is of such urgent nature as 
to require such action, but keep same from 
injuring hose by driving over it. 

A city ordinance enumerates U. S. mail 
wagons and ambulances carrying patients to 
hospital or proceeding to scene of accident 
where persons were injured; it also states 
that the officer in command at. fires may 
permit any driver to pass within lines or 
cross any hose under his direction. 

ANS. 3:—(a) Every non-fireproof build¬ 
ing hereafter erected or altered for an apart¬ 
ment or tenement house, five stories or 
more in height, exclusive of cellar, or five 
stories and basement, over a cellar and occu¬ 
pied by one or more families on a floor, 
shall have a store on the first floor. The 
entire first and second stories shall be con¬ 
structed fireproof in accordance with Section 
106 B. Code. 

(b) In fireproof apartments or tenements 
less than five stories in height, or having 
four stories and a basement above a cellar, 
and occupied by one or two families on any 
floor above the first, shall have the first floor 
above the cellar or lowest story construct¬ 
ed fireproof as requested by Section 106, 
Building Code. Section 58 of the Building 
Code requires the ceiling over every cellar in 
residence buildings over four stories high 
erected hereafter, if beams are of wood the 
same shall be lathed with iron or wire lath 
and plastered with two coats of brown mor¬ 
tar of good quality, or such other fireproof 
material as the Commissioner of Buildings 
may direct. 

ANS. 4:—(a) In an inspection of a grain 
elevator, the main points to be looked after 
are the dust room and how dust is disposed 
of; the crush and smut machine and loca¬ 
tion of same; also the location of.corn shell- 
ers and how refuse from same is disposed 
of.’ Location of feed grinder, feed dryers; 
construction and what method is used for 
drying. The great danger of fire in these 
places is caused by shaftings on different 
machines getting out of line, causing hot 


boxes and igniting the accumulation of dust, 
causing explosions, very often. The law 
provides that grain elevators shall be erected 
along river front or tide water in isolated lo¬ 
calities under laws of the Building Depart¬ 
ment. 

(b) A storehouse of photo-supplies has a 
great many dangerous chemicals and com¬ 
bustibles, and in making inspection of such 
places, I would ascertain the amounts of 
different articles, and the manner in which 
they were stored. The places all carry cer¬ 
tain quantity of guncotton, nitrate of cellu¬ 
lose, collodion, lycopodium or flashlight 
powder and developing acid, all of which 
should be stored in fireproof vaults, keep¬ 
ing the nitrates well separated, such vaults 
to be outside of building. There is really 
no regulation exactly governing such places 
in the laws of the Municipal Explosion Com¬ 
mission making. 

(c) The principal point in a sugar refining 
inspection is the location and construction 
of kilns; method of heating premises, where 
and how cone black is cooled and handled; 
the method of sugar bag-drying and loca¬ 
tion of drying rooms and construction of 
same; how grinding and pulverizing is done; 
where lime is stored; the method of caring 
for accumulations of dust. The careless 
handling of above articles, poor construc¬ 
tion, etc., and not properly keeping place in 
condition would bring sugar refinery and 
grain elevators under the Fire Prevention 
Law, Sec. 776, as a fire hazard, and viola¬ 
tions should be forwarded when conditions 
warrant it. 

(d) A large dock used for passenger serv¬ 
ice: Note the exit for persons to leave pier 
in case of fire, principally from upper loft 
of same. See if pier is equipped with stand¬ 
pipe, hose outlets, hose., axe hooks and ex¬ 
tinguishers. Standpipes to have Siamese on 
street and river ends of same. The kind of 
cargo, and how same is stored and handled, 
making note and report of combustibles or 
explosives found in any. Also telegraph 
communications to fire headquarters. 

ANS. 5:—(a) The storage of gasolene in 
underground tanks, which are to be filled 
from pipe at curb in metal box, each tank 
not to hold more than 275 gallons, and not 
more than 5 of such tanks allowed in one 
place, a vent pipe—10 feet over roof of gar- 
age—20 feet from nearest windows, capped 
by double goose net covered with wire mesh; 
each tank at least H inch thick, buried in 
Portland cement concrete, 2 feet below level 
of lowest floor of building, or adjoining 
building 10 feet distant. No tank shall be 
placed under a sidewalk or in front of build¬ 
ing line. The handling of gasolene, such as 
filling tank of cars, should be done either 
from pump direct, or by means of portable 
tanks, or safety cans, thus avoiding the ex¬ 
posing of vapor too much. No tank wagon 
or barrel of gasolene shall be taken in a gar¬ 
age for the delivery of such. The location 
of repair shops and all other sparking de¬ 
vices. The kind of lighting system in use; 
only incandescent electric allowed, all switch 
at least 4 feet from floor, and all movable 


129 


electric lights to have keyless sockets. An 
approved oil separator of not over 50 gal¬ 
lons’ capacity, portable tanks of not over 55 
gallons capacity, self-closing waste cans, 
sand buckets on each floor, and a quantity 
of sand kept on floor to absorb all oils. No 
stove, forge torch, boiler, flame or fire, and 
no sparking device, or likely to provoke 
spark, shall be located in garages, unless 
separated by unpierced approved fire walls 
and floors; also smoking rooms. 

(b) I would make a thorough inspection 
of premises, commencing with the name of 
occupant, location of premises, nature and 
construction of building, for what purpose 
same is used. The number of vehicles on 
storage and how stored, calcium carbide, 
how stored, and if any acetylene or distalite 
in tanks, stored or kept other than those on 
cars. 

Also the surrounding buildings must be 
taken in consideration. See that no dry 
goods, paints, lacquer, varnish, resin, hemp, 
turpentine, gunpowder or other combustible 
or explosive is kept or stored in building. 
See that boiler room and other places where 
sparking devices are separated from garage 
by unpierced approved fire walls and floors; 
also chauffeurs’ smoking rooms, the same. 
These points, in addition to those enumer¬ 
ated in sub-division (a) of this question, 
would make a good inspection of a garage to 
find a violation, as these are all the essential 
points to look for. 

(c) In finding violation of law in such 
places, I would forward violation in dupli¬ 
cate to Chief of Department, recommending 
that premises be put in order and comply 
with garage regulation within a specified 
time; otherwise the Fire Commissioner take 
such action as is given him by power of 
Sections 776 to 778 in the Charter of the Fire 
Prevention Law. I would see that “no 
smoking” signs were properly placed in 
building. 


REPORT. 

ANSWER: 

In reference to the effect upon the Fire 
Department in the reduction of incendiary 
fires, I would state that the enormous per¬ 
centage in reduction of work for the uni¬ 
formed force who have to extinguish such 
fires is wonderful, and a person not really 
acquainted with the facts would doubt that 
such was the case, but any member of the 
Department, who is in a position to know 
of who has been in a vicinity which was 
the hot bed of such work can readily see 
the difference. The wear and tear on horses, 
apparatus, tools and members of the De¬ 
partment has decreased to such an amount 
as to be very beneficial, and helps to in¬ 
crease the life of all mentioned. The work 
of the Fire Marshal’s Bureau, under the 
supervision of the Fire Commissioner, and 
the members of the Department, who are 
assigned to obtain evidence against the in¬ 
surance companies and the firebugs was a 
novel piece of work, showing how easy it 


was to obtain insurance on articles, without 
the companies appraising or knowing the 
value of same, certain members of the De¬ 
partment, obtaining over $127,000 worth of 
insurance on about $3.64 worth of articles, 
showing in its easy manner to obtain such a 
reason for the crime of arson, to help per¬ 
sons who are in financial difficulties, often 
on the verge of bankruptcy. The benefit to 
the public getting rid of these firebugs elim¬ 
inated a danger to which persons were sub¬ 
jected, in places being set afire either in day 
or night. 

The reduction in losses to the insurance 
companies has benefited them materially as 
they have saved large sums of money, which 
they would have certainly paid out in claims. 
The suppression of arson, by getting the 
evidence against the number of firebugs and 
cheap insurance adjusters, who no doubt 
were in league with each other, and then 
getting them to tell what they knew of the 
method employed in obtaining insurance,: 
the setting of fires, and settlement of claims, 
had the desired results in breaking up the 
same. The additional measure to abolish 
the crime of arson completely rests in the 
passing of stringent laws, governing the is¬ 
suance of insurance policies by companies, 
making the applicant on form of applica¬ 
tion supply the company with all the infor¬ 
mation and a pedigree of such applicant for 
a past period to be settled by law. This pedi¬ 
gree could be looked up and anything detri¬ 
mental or questionable to such applicant’s 
character or history would be sufficient to 
refuse the issuance of a policy. The meth¬ 
od of issuing policies should be copied 3 
great deal from the method employed in 
some of the older countries of Europe, in 
which the applicant must furnish such rec¬ 
ord and answer a very close questioning by 
company before any policy is written or is¬ 
sued, and any false testimony or answer fur¬ 
nished in such application, would be suffi¬ 
cient to deny a policy, or if such was not 
discovered at time of issuing same, would be 
considered cause to cancel such policy or 
ground to refuse payment of claim in case of 
fire. The laws governing this cannot be too 
strict, as the more so they are the less 
chance the firebug would have to get in his 
work. The great trouble lies mostly with 
the insurance companies, and if the Legis¬ 
lature would pass laws to govern the insur¬ 
ance companies in their way of issuing poli¬ 
cies a great deal of trouble would be avoid¬ 
ed and the end of setting fires as a trade, or 
for the benefit derived in collecting money 
on such fires, would be at an end. 

The laws governing such should require 
the insurance company to send to the Fire 
Commission a record of copy of every appli¬ 
cation for insurance, giving full details of 
each, with pedigree and information con¬ 
cerning the applicant, in which cases the 
Fire Commissioner, from records of the 
Fire Marshal s Bureau, might have some 
record or evidence against applicants. Anv 
application disapproved by the Fire Com¬ 
missioner would cancel such, and no policy 
should be issued or written unless approved 
by such Commissioner. 


In conclusion I would also say that the 
evidence obtained against a number of fire¬ 
bugs which resulted in their receiving long 
terms in prison has had the effect to scare 
those who would attempt the crime of ar¬ 
son, since that time, almost all of the fires of 
to-day show no signs of the incendiary, but 
seem to be the outcome of carelessness. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
FOREMAN (CAPTAIN), 

Fire Department. 

Date: June 21, 1910. 
ADMINISTRATION. 

Weight 5. 

Ques. 1:—In making semi-annual inspec¬ 
tions, what points should be noted and 
why, and what equipment is necessary in 
the following: A fireproof office building, 
a wholesale drug warehouse, a printing of¬ 
fice, a department store, a theater, a hotel, 
a wholesale grocery, a clothing factory, an 
apartment? 

NOTE:—In answering this question a 
knowledge of Inspection Form No. V-250 
is essential, and the form is published in 
full herewith. The question is one of the 
hardest that could possibly be asked, for 
the reason that even an expert Inspector 
could hardly carry all the details in his 
head, and because to answer the question 
fully would require several hours. Further¬ 
more, it calls for repetition in each class of 
occupation, although the majority of the re¬ 
quirements are common to each. The re¬ 
quirement to state “why” is also a needless 
hardship, because in most cases the facts 
speak for themselves. A candidate at the 
examination could not possibly give proper 
answers in the allotted time. 

ANSWER:— 

(INSPECTION FORM NO. V-250.) 

Location—B orough—Date. 

Size of Material; Built of —Classification, 
height, stories, feet, date of erection. 

Occupied as— Nature of business. 

Owner or proprietor. 

No. of Persons in Building —Employees, 
others, watchman. 

Theaters, etc. —Seating capacity, orches¬ 
tra, balcony, gallery, boxes, total. 

No. of Sleeping Rooms. —Wards or dor¬ 
mitories, accommodations provided for. 

Fire Escapes, Outside —Number, location, 
condition; rope, number, location, condition. 

Stairways —Number, where located, con¬ 
dition, inclosed construction, open construc¬ 
tion. 

Elevators —Number, available day only, 
at all hours. 

FIRE APPLIANCES. 

Tel. Con. with Dept. Hdqtrs.— System, 
box number. 


Interior Alarm System —Number of 

gongs and sizes, where located. 

How Operated —Condition. 

Time Detector —Name of, stations, con¬ 
dition, standpipe, size of risers, number. 

Cross-Connections —Outlet sizes, number, 
condition. 

Location of Outlets —Location of check 
valves, source of supply. 

Standard Outside Siamese Connections— 

Number, sizes, outside signs, location, posi¬ 
tion, condition. 

Hose Sizes —Connections, kinds, nozzles, 
sizes, amount and how placed, condition. 

Perforated Pipes —Number of lines, cel¬ 
lar, sub-cellar, condition, number of stand¬ 
ard outside Siamese connections, sizes, out¬ 
side signs. 

Location —Position, condition. 

Sprinkler System— Wet or dry, location, 
condition. 

Tanks— Location, sizes, capacity in gal¬ 
lons, source of supply, how regulated, con¬ 
dition. 

Pump —Normal capacity, gallons per 

minute, kind of power, size, supply to pump, 
size, supply to tank, size. . 

Buckets —Number, how placed, condition. 
Hooks —Number, sizes, how placed, con¬ 
dition. . 

Axes—Number, how placed, condition. 
Extinguishers (3-gallon, liquid)— Name, 
number, kind, how placed, condition. 

Extinguishers (other than 3-gallon, 
liquid) —Number, condition. 

Signs in Halls (including red globes)— 
Diagram in rooms. 

OCCUPANCY. 

On each floor, beginning with subcellar 
and ending with top floor, give: Occu¬ 
pancy, nature of stock, portable fire ap¬ 
pliances, hose, extinguishers, buckets, 
hooks, axes. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

Under this heading make necessary 
recommendations to cover new installations 
or changes. 

(Signed) Foreman—, Company- 

Wholesale Drug House. —In addition to 
the points to be considered stated in the 
general form published in the foregoing, 
the following should be noted for a whole¬ 
sale drug house: . 

Nature of construction of the building. 
The number of floors occupied by the firm. 
Nature and maximum quantity of all ex¬ 
plosives and highly combustible materials 
stored. Other purposes for which the 
building is used. Nature of construction 
and use of each adjoining building. That 
nitric acid is stored on brick, concrete or 
asphalt floors and in vaults situated below 
the street level. The sawdust, hay, excel¬ 
sior, etc., is not situated in near proximity 
to carboys or stocks of nitric acid. 

That on each floor of the building occu- 


131 




pied by the drug firm there is maintained 
at distances not exceeding 15 feet apart nor 
more than 15 feet from each wall, open and 
unobstructed passageways at least 3J4 feet 
wide extending the entire length of the 
floor, and that there is also maintained 
similar passageway running the entire 
width of the floor the distance between 
which or from walls should not exceed 2.5 
feet. 

That volatile and inflammable oils and 
liquids are stored in well ventilated prem¬ 
ises and not under the street level. That 
no volatile inflammable oil is poured in the 
drainage system. That empty barrels, 
drums or containers of volatile inflammable 
oils or combustible materials are immedi¬ 
ately removed from premises after unpack¬ 
ing. That packing rooms are located as 
remotely as possible from the large stocks 
of stored goods. That the packing room 
floor is kept free from hay, excelsior or 
other combustible packing material during 
work hours. That at the close of the day 
all parts of the packing room are swept 
clean of all such materials and the sweep¬ 
ings gathered in a metal box and kept 
closed at night. That no accumulation of 
paper, broken boxes, etc., is allowed to exist 
where goods are packed or unpacked. That 
no rags or cotton waste are used for clean¬ 
ing around pans, trays or floors where oil 
is drawn from barrels, etc. That sand is 
used in absorbing oil from floors and that 
no accumulation of sand is allowed to exist 
in the premises. 

That incandescent lights only are used 
on the premises. That all incandescent 
lights in cellars are fitted with keyless 
sockets. That no heat other than steam, 
hot water or electricity, and that no stove, 
forge, torch, boiler, flame or fire is used. 
That no electrical apparatus is used where 
it may produce sparks unless the owner has 
a permit from the Fire Commissioner. 

That a notice, ‘‘Smoking Unlawful,” is 
hung up in a conspicuous place. 

Printing Office.—The form already given 
would also apply. In addition, the follow¬ 
ing should be noted: That volatile inflam¬ 
mable oils, inks, or liquids are stored in 
safety cans and that the business is in pos¬ 
session of the necessary permits from the 
Fire Commissioner for benzine, etc.; that 
there is a sufficient supply of sand on hand 
in addition to hooks, axes, pails, etc.; that 
sufficient provision is made for stairways, 
fire escapes, aisles, etc.; that paper is not 
near oils or heat; that loose paper is not 
allowed to accumulate. 

Department Stores.—The form already 
given would also apply to department 
stores. In department stores the main point 
is ample provision for egress in case of fire; 
such sufficient number of aisles, stairways, 
and elevators, fire escapes and exits and 
fire appliances. The packing, receiving and 
shipping departments of department stores 
are also to be considered. Smoking in such 
places should not be allowed nor in any 
part of the building where inflammable ma¬ 
terial is stored or kept for sale. All excel¬ 


sior, paper, etc., should be taken up and 
not be allowed to collect, as a match could 
cause a ready fire; engine room must be in 
safe condition. 

Theater.—The form already given would 
also apply. Particular attention to gas jets 
near properties, ample fire appliances, red 
lights over all exits and diagrams of exits. 

Hotel.—The form already given would 
apply. Means of egress is an important fac¬ 
tor and provisions for ample escapes; par¬ 
ticular attention to condition of kitchen 
and engine room. 

Wholesale Grocery House.—The form al¬ 
ready given would also apply. In addition 
note should be taken as to how the matches 
are stored. The packing and receiving 
rooms should be clear of all paper, rags, 
etc. All oily material should be kept in 
tin receptacles. 

Clothing Factory.—The points stated in 
the form already given should be noted. 
The main points in a clothing establishment 
are the ample provision of fire appliances, 
ample means of egress in case of fire, a suf¬ 
ficient number of stairways and elevators 
commensurate with the number of floors in 
the building and the number of people in 
the building; sufficient number of fire 
escapes; that no naked lights be allowed 
near the clothing; that smoking is not al¬ 
lowed by workers at machines; that all 
oily waste, paper, remnants of cloth, etc., 
be swept up and placed in tin receptacles; 
that all passageways and aisles in the fac¬ 
tory be absolutely clear; that no shipping 
cases block the entrances, etc. 

Apartment House. — Ample provision 
should be made for fire escapes, means of 
egress by way of stairs and elevators; that 
fire escapes are not blockaded with boxes, 
boards, etc.; that engine room is in safe 
condition and free from accumulation of in¬ 
flammables; that areaways, etc., are clean; 
that ashes are kept in tin receptacles; that 
rubbish does not accumulate in dumbwaiter 
shafts. 

(NOTE:—In each of the above places the 
number of things to look for could be mul¬ 
tiplied indefinitely; only the most impor¬ 
tant are given.) 

Ques. 2:—What tools are provided and 
how are they used: (a) To gain entrance to 
a locked or bolted room; (b) to gain en¬ 
trance to a warehouse having iron shutters 
fastened from the inside; (c) in case of a 
burst or leaky length of hose; (d) to reach 
windows of an upper floor, where overhead 
wires or other obstructions prevent the use 
of extension or serial ladders; (e) to reach 
windows over 90 feet from the ground 
where there are no fire escapes; (f) to 
throw large streams from the ground, from 
a wagon, from a ladder; (g) to throw water 
into a cellar, a subcellar, through sidewalk 
gratings? 

ANS.: (a) The tools used would be an 
axe or a hole door opener. Insert the door 
opener in a place where the door may be 
most conveniently forced open. The axe 
could also be put to advantage in forcing 


132 


the door. If this fails, endeavor to open 
the door from the hinges. 

(b) The tools used would be an axe, a 
lock opener and a six-foot hook. Insert the 
claw end of the lock opener under the shut¬ 
ter at the bottom and raise it partly off the 
hinges, then strike the shutter with the back 
of the axe just below the latch fastening. 
This will cause the latch to spring up, and 
in most cases the shutter will come open. 
There are some classes of iron shutters 
which have hand holes cut in them; these 
can be opened readily from the outside. 
When this style of shutter is found all 
that is necessary is to press in hard on the 
shutter, put in the hand through the hand 
hole, lift the latch up quickly and pull 
the shutter open. In buildings having no 
fire escapes and where the shutters cannot 
be opened from the outside, the best thing 
to do is to send a hook and ladder company 
to the roof, remove the scuttle over the 
stairway, open all the skylights on the roof 
and open a part of the roof, if necessary, 
in order that the smoke and heat may 
escape. In some cases the shutters on top 
floor windows can be opened from the roof 
by pulling the shutter off its hinges with 
a hook, but in this case great care should 
be taken that the shutter does not fall down 
and injure persons below. 

(c) Use a hose jacket. Place the hose 
with the burst towards the street and shove 
the jacket under. 

(d) Use a wire cutter and a ladder. In¬ 
struct the men to go on the roof and cut 
the wires. When a sufficient area has been 
cleared to admit of placing a ladder from 
the roof, do so and continue to cut wire 
so that ladders may be raised from the 
street also. 

(e) In order to reach windows over 90 
feet from the ground where there are no 
fire escapes, I would use the largest exten¬ 
sion ladder at hand, a 75-foot ladder or an 
85-foot ladder, and the rest of the way I 
would use the scaling ladder. 

(f) In order to throw a large stream from 
the ground, I would use a Deluge set, con¬ 
sisting of a two or three-way Siamese, 3- 
inch leading line and street pipe and Para¬ 
dox Pipe Holder. Connect two or three 
lines as required from engine or high-pres¬ 
sure hydrants into Siamese, put on a 3-inch 
length of hose as a leading pipe from the 
Siamese; then put on street pipe and then' 
place in Paradox Pipe Holder. 

In order to throw a large stream from 
a wagon, I would stretch in two or three 
3 -inch lines from engine or high-pressure 
hydrants and operate the glazier nozzle, 
which is located in front of the wagon. 
The wagon should be placed on the oppo¬ 
site side of the street, so as to get proper 
angle to throw streams into windows in 
upper floors. If placed too near the build¬ 
ing the streams will not enter the window. 

In order to throw large streams from a 
ladder, I would place a ladder against the 
building in front of the window in question 
long enough to reach above the window. I 
would then stretch in a line and put on a 


controlling nozzle. The man who operates 
the line should then put on a ladder belt 
and get a pipe strap and then place the 
nozzle from in front over his right shoulder. 
Then ascend the ladder and up to the win¬ 
dow in question. Then hook himself on 
the ladder belt, put on pipe strap a foot 
back of the butt, put it through the rungs 
of the ladder, hooking the ladder strap to 
the second rung above. Then start the 
water and operate the nozzle to the best ad¬ 
vantage. 

(g) There are three styles of cellar pipes. 
The old style is called the Bent cellar pipe, 
the new styles are called the Hart cellar 
pipe and the Baker cellar pipe. To work 
from the outside of the building, I would 
make a hole in the dead lights of the 
grating and put the pipe down to oper¬ 
ate. When working inside the building, I 
would cut a hole in the floor small enough 
to admit the nozzle part of the cellar pipe 
and then drop the nozzle and operate to 
the best advantage. The Hart cellar pipe 
and the Baker cellar pipe work almost alike, 
with the exception that the Hart cellar pipe 
has a spray which operates when water is 
started, for the purpose of keeping heat and 
smoke from the hole in which the cellar 
pipe is operating. 

To throw water in a sub-cellar, I would 
connect the two sections of the sub-cellar 
pipe together, taking care to have the han¬ 
dles in each in line and that the connec¬ 
tion is set up absolutely tight to prevent 
the part from getting out of line. I would 
then put on the goose-neck portion on the 
upper end and connect the line. I would 
then take the chain and put the toggles 
through the eyes on the lower part of the 
cellar pipe from front to back. I would 
then lower the sub-cellar pipe down the area 
until it strikes bottom; then pull up about 
three feet and hook the chain through the 
crossbar which is placed in front of the sub¬ 
cellar pipe; then start the water. 

To throw water in a sidewalk grating is 
answered in the first part of this question. 

Ques. 3:—(a) Give the various sizes of 
the high-pressure water mains, (b) Size 
connecting to hydrants, and size of main 
valve in hydrants, also the number and size 
of outlets on hydrants, (c) What means 
are provided so as to allow the main valve 
to be opened with ease against a pressure 
of 200 pounds? (d) Are the hydrants re¬ 
ferred to apt to freeze in cold weather? 
Why? (e) How many turns are required 
to open the main hydrant valve and the 
various independent valves? And in what 
direction does the valve stem turn to open? 

ANS.:—(a) In New York there are the 
following sizes: 24, 20, 16, 12 and 8-inch 
hydrant connections. In Brooklyn, 20, 16, 
12 and 8-inch hydrant connections. 

(b) There is an 8-inch connection to the 
hydrant. The size of main valves in hy¬ 
drants is 6 inches. In the old system there 
were one 4j4-inch and three 3-inch outlets. 
The new system has four 3-inch outlets. 


133 


(c) There is a pilot valve in conjunction 
with the main valve which opens first, al¬ 
lowing the water to enter barrel of the 
hydrant, thereby equalizing the pressure. 

(d) The hydrants are not apt to freeze 
in winter, because there is a drain valve 
attached to the hydrant which, upon closing 
the hydrant, opens into a drain above the 
valve, thereby taking all water out of the 
barrel. When hydrant opens, the valve 
closes. 

(e) About 21 or 22 turns are required to 
open the main valve. In order to open the 
4j4-inch independent valve, about 20 or 21 
turns are required, and then each of the 
3-inch valves about 16 turns are necessary. 
The valve stem turns to the right. 

Ques. 4:—(a) As commanding officer, 
state in detail, in your own language, what 
you would do upon the return from the re¬ 
pair shops of the following apparatus: 
Steam fire engine, hook and ladder truck 
and water tower. 

(b) What hazards are generally encoun¬ 
tered in fighting a fire in a cold storage 
house, and what precautions would you 
take? If in command of a truck, what 
special directions would you give? 

ANS.:—(a) I would take the steam fire 
engine to the hydrant and put about two 
gauges of water; get up steam until it 
would blow off. This is to show where 
safety valve is set. After running awhile 
and everything is running right, I would 
make a test by having not more than 60 
or 70 pounds of steam on engine; open 
discharge gate, start up the engine slowly 
and gradually close the churn valve tight. 
See that all openings, sprinklers, relieve 
pumps, relieve cocks, etc., are closed tight. 
Let the engine run in this condition for one 
or two minutes. Observe the number of 
revolutions and the water, steam and suc¬ 
tion (now static) pressures. Note any un¬ 
even motion of the engine, blowing through 
of steam, or imperfect valve setting; leaks 
in steam or water ends or fittings, etc. If 
the pumps are in good condition and the 
valves set correctly, speed should not be 
over one revolution in ten seconds in any 
modern sized engine. 

Valve Test. —After taking observations 
as to high pressure tests, as stated in the 
foregoing, shut off throttle of engine and 
open cylinder drips; note the drop in the 
water pressure for about one-half minute. 
The manner in which the pressure holds up 
is an indication of the condition of the dis¬ 
charge valves. A drop of not over 15 
pounds in one-half minute, provided there 
are no external leaks visible around the 
pumps, indicates a fairly good condition of 
the valves. 

Suction Test.— Disconnect the engine 
from the hydrant, and while there is still 
some steam pressure on boiler, put both 
suction caps on tight, open one of the dis¬ 
charge gates and then open throttle, allow¬ 
ing engine to run at a moderate speed. 
Observe the reading of the compound 
gauge while running and also after shutting 


down. The drop of the vacuum, after shut¬ 
ting down, is an indication that the suction 
valve, provided all joints are good, is in 
good order. After seeing that everything 
is in excellent condition, I would then place 
the engine in service. I would then have 
the engine cleaned thoroughly. 

Hook and Ladder Truck.—Before the 
hook and ladder is backed into the house, 
I would have the men raise and extend the 
extension ladder. I would see that all 
cables and everything work freely. I would 
then have the driver drive up and down 
the street in order to see that the steering 
gear is in good order. I would look every¬ 
thing over carefully and see that all tools 
carried were placed on the truck before it 
is placed in service. When in quarters, I 
would see that the truck is thoroughly 
cleaned. 

Water Tower. —I would notify the Chief 
of Battalion of the return of the water 
tower and would request him to have a 
spare engine sent in front' of quarters. 
When the engine arrived, I would put it to 
a hydrant and would get up steam pressure. 
I would then connect a 3-inch length of 
hose from the steam engine to the water 
tower. I would then raise the water tower. 
I would then extend the standpipe and start 
water, noting the amount of pressure be¬ 
tween the engine and the water tower. 
After being satisfied that everything is in 
good order, I would then lower the water 
tower and place same in service. Then I 
would have the apparatus thoroughly 
cleaned. 

(b) The hazards in a cold storage plant 
are the ammonia. The first thing I would 
do at a fire in an ammonia plant would be 
to shut off the supply of ammonia at 
its source. I would instruct the members 
of the hook and ladder company to be care¬ 
ful not to break the ammonia pipes and 
would instruct them to ventilate the build¬ 
ing as quickly as possible. 


Ques. 5:—Describe in detail any one of 
the types of the following Fire Department 
apparatus (select only one make of engine, 
one of ladder truck, and one of boat). 

(a) Metropolitan, Clapp & Jones, Nott, 
Amoskeag or La France engine, stating in 
detail the type of pump and boiler and the 
tools carried and for what purpose they are 
used. 


t \ j • i , , , - u ''“&‘ avc , xactyes O] 

Dedrick ladder truck, stating in detail th< 
style and size of ladders carried on each 
the method of raising the long extensior 
ladder, and the principal minor equipment 

(c) A fireboat, with either reciprocating 
or centrifugal pumps (naming the boat) 
giving style of boiler, style and capacity o: 
pumps and the number of lj^-inch stream: 
which the boat you describe would supph 
with loO pounds on the pumps and 71 
pounds at the nozzles. 

. A u NS -LT( a ) The Metropolitan Engine 
with a Fox Sectional Boiler, a steam gen 
erator of the vertical water-tube type, con 
sists of an annular shell, heavily stay 


134 


bolted throughout, and constitutes a water¬ 
legged firebox and steam reservoir, there 
being no crown sheets, smoke flues or other 
complications. The principal heating sur¬ 
face consisits of straight water tubes and 
manifolds in sections. The lower part of 
the water-leg of the shell is contracted for 
the rapid generation of steam. The inner 
shell is flanged inward, enlarging the an¬ 
nular space between the inner and outer 
sheets, providing a more copious reservoir, 
which prevents the rapid fluctuation of the 
water level. The increased area of its sur¬ 
face at that point is very favorable to the 
disengagement of steam, which protects the 
flanged parts of the inner shell, and no 
danger can occur, either from a wilful or 
accidental drawing down of the water, as 
the spray deflected through the nipples of 
the outer tubes protects the flange, al¬ 
though the actual water level is well down 
in the leg. The stream in contact with the 
upper part of the shell is by no means dry, 
as the heat absorbed at this point is suf¬ 
ficient to amply protect it and assist in 
bringing the steam to a proper working 
pitch. 

The principal heating surface is in the 
vertical water-tube sections, and comprises 
the inner and outer tube system. 

The outer embraces the shot manifolds 
which encircle the firebox walls, and the 
top end of each is screwed and suspended 
from the flanged part of the shell. 

The lower end is stayed by a direct con¬ 
nection into the leg of the firebox and the 
tubes are staggered in their manifolds, ex¬ 
posing the greatest possible surface to the 

The inner system consists of manifold 
sections. The flat inner end of each upper 
manifold is bolted to a heavy transverse 
beam and supported in suitable pockets 
secured to the upper part of the shell. 

All connections are united by a right and 
left nipple, and a single connection to the 
leg of the firebox serves to supply both. 

The draft can never become impaired by 
accumulation of soot, and the advantages 
possessed by this boiler are numerous, 
working pressure being generated in about 
six minutes from cold water. 

A first size boiler is 36 x 66 inches in 
diameter. On inner side of inner shell is 
a steam takeoff, which encircles the inner 
shell, perforated at a distant point. Steam 
entering this ring is held in contact with 
the heated shell, insuring dry steam. About 
11 tube sections, from 3 to 1 in each, mak¬ 
ing 22 manifolds in the boiler. 

The inner tubes are about 41 inches long. 
The shells are made of steel, and the mani¬ 
fold tubes are counter-bored, admitting the 
full sections, leaving none of the threaded 
portions exposed. . . 

With double-acting pumps, receiving and 
discharging at both water ends of the 
stroke, water flows through the suction side, 
and through the upper suction valves, fol¬ 
lowing the course of the plunger down; and 
on the top stroke of the plunger the upper 
suction valves are unseated and the water 


is discharged through the upper discharge 
valves to the line. Pump has a partition, 
•containing the suction and discharge valves. 
There is a cross-partition, which divides the 
stroke of the engine and pump. There is a 
bottom discharge, independent of the upper 
discharge. There are 8 suction and 8 
discharge valves in each pump, or 32 valves 
in a Double La France Engine Pump. 

The pump plunger is water-packed. 

Tools Carried on the Metropolitan Engine. 

4j4-inch suctions, 10 feet 6 inches long, 
to take suction. 

4^-inch suction, 4 feet long, to connect 
engines. 

4^4-inch suction swivel, to use on suc¬ 
tion and double hydrant. 

4j4x2}4-inch reducing suction swivel, to 
connect to a single hydrant. 

Hydrant connection, to connect single 
hydrant to engine. 

Portable hydrant nipple, to connect hy¬ 
drant, if the nipple cannot be used. 

Fresh water connection, to connect to 
fresh water line to feed boiler with fresh 
water. 

Thaw hose, to thaw out hydrants and 
frozen parts. 

Hydrant pump, to pump out water. 

Suction basket and rope, to keep chips, 
stones, etc., from the engine pump; rope to 
make same fast. 

Play pipes, for large streams. 

Increasers and reducers, use on lines and 
standpipes. 

Siamese connections, to Siamese lines. 
Two and three-way connections, for two 
and three lines. 

Pipe holders, to secure lines with heavy 
pressures. 

Double female connections, to connect 
two male ends. 

Wrenches, all kinds and sizes, H. P., 
stuffing boxes, suction, to make up con¬ 
nections, etc. 

Slice bar, poker shovel, for firing engine, 
(b) Hook and Ladder Truck, La France 
Spring Assist Aerial Ladder, straight steel 
frame, raised by mechanical means, by 
springs from a horizontal position to a 
vertical position, without manual labor. 
Checked and controlled by an air cushion 
formed by the ladder in raising. Coil 
springs enclosed in steel cylinders, which 
are mounted on the table. Geared seg¬ 
ments, forming a shoe for the aerial butt 
ladder, gears meshing with segments and 
operated by crank wheels, with stationary 
bearings fitted with anti-friction rollers and 
oil cups. 

Automatic air-controlling cylinder. Rais¬ 
ing springs are held in compression, ready 
for immediate use. Released by a foot 
lever, which ‘operates a crosshead, locks 
the springs; in expanding exerts sufficient 
power against crosshead and connecting 
rods. The ladder braces and elevates from 
a horizontal to a vertical position without 
jarring as ladder raises. A piston travels 
in cylinder, compressing the air, which is 
allowed to escape through a vent. 


135 


Equipment. 

Beam or truss ladders: 10-foot, 15-foot, 
20-foot, 25-foot, 30-foot. 

Hooks: 6-foot, 10-foot, 20-foot. 

Six-pound axes. 

Extension ladders: 
foot. 

Hammer, 

Mauls, 

Tin Forks, 

Tin Roof Cutter, 

Wire Cutter, 

Crowbars, 

Battering Ram, 

Hole Drift, 

Pliers, 

Chisel, 

Lock Opener, 

(c) The Fireboat C. W. Lawrence (Eng. 
Co. No. 87). 

Two Babcock & Wilson water-tube boil¬ 
ers. Heating surface of each boiler, 1,760 
square feet. Pressure, 150 pounds. Horse¬ 
power, 500. 

Length, 104 feet. Beam, 26.6 feet. 
Draught, 9 feet. Gross tonnage, 172. 

Inverting compound condensing engine 
cylinder. High-pressure, 14; low-pressure, 
30. Stroke, 22. 

Two pumps, double-acting, each 3,500 gal¬ 
lons per minute at 170 pounds, supplied 
through two 10-inch suction valves, through 
a 15-inch shutoff valve and 15-inch gate 
valve between the pumps. 

Capacity of the boat is 7,000 gallons. 

It could supply 12 lines conveniently, four 
lengths of 3-inch hose in each line, with 
1^-inch nozzles, and each line would dis- f 
charge 579 gallons of water per minute, 
with 75 pounds nozzle pressure. 

This is figured as shown elsewhere. 

Ques. 6:—State in detail how you would 
go to work and just what you would do in 
each of the following cases: 

(a) You are ordered to stretch your line 
up fire escapes to the eighth floor. 

(b) You have a line of hose on the roof 
of a seven-story building and playing a 
stream through the windows on the ninth 
floor of an adjoining building on fire; sud¬ 
denly your stream becomes weak and 
would not reach the windows, and upon in¬ 
vestigating you found your hose had burst 
just above the female coupling which was 
located between the fifth floor and roof. 
How would you replace the burst length? 

(c) How would you stretch your hose 
through the interior of a modern tenement 
house to the seventh floor? 

(d) How would you get a 45-foot ladder 
on the roof of a six-story building in order 
to place it in position against the wall of 
an adjoining twelve-story building? 

(e) What signal would you send to call 
Truck 68 from Brooklyn to Box 74 in 
Manhattan, and Truck 10 from Manhattan 
to Box 74 in Brooklyn? 


ANS.:—(a) Give the order to stretch the 
line on the same side of the street that the 
engine is located; and if on the 2nd or 
greater alarm, to the front of the building. 
Then reduce the line with 2 l / 2 -\noh hose. 
Pull off sufficient hose. Have the Truck 
Co. raise a 25-foot ladder. Send 2 men up 
ahead with a rope and a nozzle. Have line 
pulled up on the outside of the fire escape, 
the rest of the men lighting up on the line 
and to put pipe straps on two or three dif¬ 
ferent places to take the strain off the line. 
Order the water, and be prepared to have 
an efficient stream by using the proper 
nozzle. 

(b) Have one man notify the Engineer 
to shut off and relieve the line, and if suffi¬ 
cient hose is in the line, pull up to the roof 
and take out bursted length of hose. If 
there is not enough hose, get the men in the 
street to break the line, and get one length 
of hose and put it in the line. The men on 
the roof would pull up the line and take 
out the bursted length, while they would be 
getting and putting the length of hose in. 
When connected up, start the water. If 
possible, use a Hose Jacket, as less time is 
lost. 

(c) Stretch the line of hose up stairway, 
as it takes the strain off the butts, allowing 
one length for each story and one extra 
length for work on the floor. Lay your 
line around the stairway, and not through 
the hole; and when taking up, or backing 
out, the nozzle will be last to come out. 
Break the line in the street outside of build¬ 
ing, as this drains the line of hose of water 
and also prevents the hose from being 
coiled. 

(d) Have at least 6 men. Take the lad¬ 
der off the truck. Bring it on the sidewalk, 
the butt in front of the 6-story building. 
Two men on the butt grasp the 3rd rung 
from the bottom; 2 men on the beam grasp 
about the 8th rung from the top; 2 men on 
the Tormentors. The men on the beams, to 
work steadily, hand over hand. Place lad¬ 
der where you want it. 

In the meantime, have the men on the 
roof with a Roof Rope, Hose Roller and 
an Axe, place roller in position. Lower the 
roof rope to the man in the street, who will 
tie two half-hitches on about the 15th rung 
and the beams, and a bowline in the center 
between the beams with a safety knot. 
Men will pull up the ladder, and when the 
ladder appears over the roof, men take the 
ladder on its beam over cornice until the 
bowline passes over the cornice. Then 
they will again handle it and place it against 
the wall of the 12-story building. Have the 
butt of the ladder about 11 feet away from 
the base. 

(e) 7—7 7—74—68. 

Operator would send out the two sixes. 
6—6 7—74—10. 

The operator would send out the two sev¬ 
ens for the borough where the Truck is re¬ 
quired. 


12-foot, 14-foot, 16- 


Door Forcer, 

Life Net, 

Claw Tool, 

Signal Flags, 

Roof Roller, 

Cellar Pipes, 
Distributers, 
Medical Bag, 

Vagan Bader Mask, 
Gas Wrenches, etc. 


136 


Ques. 7:—If in charge of an engine com¬ 
pany responding to a second alarm near the 
waterfront and you are ordered to set your 
engine to draft at a dock or bulkhead, 
stretch-in and go to work on the third floor 
from a fire escape, tell what you would do, 
in the order it should be done and the num¬ 
ber of men you would assign to each task, 
provided you arrive with six men on your 
apparatus. 

ANS.:—Have the Driver of the engine 
proceed to the nearest dock from the fire, 
the Engineer to chock the wheels about 1 
foot of the stringpiece. The Driver to as¬ 
sist the Engineer in connecting the large 
suctions, with the strainer, using roof-rope 
to tie the suction. Put one end of the rope 
between the suction and the basket, 2 half¬ 
hitches and a bowline, snug and tight, and 
when connected to suction on engine lower 
the suction overboard, taking the strain off 
suction by tying the other end on the rear 
wheel. 

The Driver to assist the Engineer to get 
fresh water to feed the boiler by having his 
fresh-water connection placed between two 
lengths of hose from a line connected to an 
engine with a hydrant, and connect one end 
of his Croton hose to the fresh-water con¬ 
nection and the other end to the swivel on 
engine of feed line, to supply boiler, by 
shutting off all branches of feed line so as 
not to allow any salt water from the pumps 
into the boiler. Have the Tender Driver 
drive to where you want to pull your hose 
off the wagon (one man first pulling off the 
3-inch hose and connecting the female end 
to the gate of the engine). Pull off enough 
hose to where you are going to stretch. 
Have the 4 men stretch the line to the 
front of the building. Have a ladder placed 
to the fire escape. Man to put on a proper 
size open nozzle. Place line on right shoul¬ 
der and up the ladder to the fire escape, 
and the line to go up through the well-hole. 
Fasten line with pipe straps on the 2nd and 
3rd floors. Bring up enough line to be able 
to get in on the 3rd floor. When ready 
send back the Driver to notify the Engineer 
to start the water, informing him where the 
company is working and to give sufficient 
pressure. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight 2. 

(Candidates will answer any five of the 
following questions. Do not answer more 
than five. If more than five be answered, 
the first five only will be rated.) 

Q ues . 1:—Give all the particulars regard¬ 
ing the official reports which are to be 
made by company commanders relative to 
the inspection and condition of fire hy¬ 
drants in their company districts. 

ANS.:—Cause an inspection to be made 
of all hydrants in their districts, between 
the 5th and 10th of each month, and during 
the winter months, daily, if necessary, and 
forward a report thereon on or before the 


10th of each month, showing number and 
kinds of hydrants, location of new ones, 
and those removed and not replaced since 
previous report. 

Special reports of any hydrants placed or 
removed, giving location, viz., side of 
street and distance from corner. Also for¬ 
ward to Headquarters semi-annually, with 
regular monthly hydrant reports, their 
company maps, corrected to date, for com¬ 
parison with maps on file at office of the 
Chief of Department. Also a detailed re¬ 
port of hydrants needing repairs, to the 
officers having charge of the same in their 
districts, and if not repaired within a rea¬ 
sonable time, send a report to Headquar¬ 
ters. Shall immediately report the turning 
on of water in new hydrants. 

Verbal notice to be given to persons ob¬ 
structing hydrants, and to contractors 
opening streets, to remove obstructions, 
and if not complied with directly, reports 
shall be forwarded. 

Ques. 2:—(a) Give the regulations re¬ 
garding the care of fire hose in freezing 
weather; (b) the care of hose that has 
burst. 

ANS.:—(a) In freezing weather the 
greatest care must be taken of the hose. 
If any surplus or burst hose should be 
taken from the lines, it must not be allowed 
to lie in the street, but must be taken up, 
reeled on tender, or carried in some build¬ 
ing to be protected from the weather until 
the company is taking up. 

(b) Shall mark bursted hose with pres¬ 
sure at which it burst, hang in the tower, 
and notify Headquarters by letter the fol¬ 
lowing day. 

Make out a requisition for repairs, stat¬ 
ing the brand, size, date of issue, regis¬ 
tered number, and also one invoice and two 
receipts to accompany the bursted hose to 
the Repair Shops, for the Chief in charge. 

Ques. 3:—What are the regulations re¬ 
garding the following: 

(a) Foremen’s reports of violations of 
law in buildings in their districts (give de¬ 
tails). 

(b) Violations that have already been re¬ 
ported. 

(c) Details regarding reports on defec¬ 
tive dumbwaiter shafts. 

(d) The storage of lumber in cellars. 

(e) Furnished room houses. 

(f) Buildings erected prior to the enact¬ 
ment of the Building Code in 1899. 

ANS.:—(a) Make detailed separate writ¬ 
ten report of each unsafe building, stat¬ 
ing violations of laws and ordinances, giv¬ 
ing section covering violation, date of erec¬ 
tion of building, and endorse the street and 
number on the back of the report. 

(b) In making semi-annual inspections, 
when forwarding their building cards of 
inspections of every building wherein fire 
appliances of any kind are installed, or re¬ 
quired, whether they have been previously 
reported on or not, they will state in each 


case whether the provisions of the law 
have, or have not, been complied with. 

(c) Defective dumbwaiter shafts shall be 
reported as a violation of the Tenement 
House Law, if in a tenement house erected 
since April 10, 1901. In all buildings 
erected prior to that date they shall be re¬ 
ported as a violation of the Building Code, 
and not as a violation of Section 780 of 
the Charter. 

(d) Lumber and other combustible ma¬ 
terials stored in cellars in violation of Sec¬ 
tion 771 of the Charter. 

(e) Furnished room houses are covered . 
by Section 103 of the Building Code. 
Those having not less than 15 rooms shall 
have good and sufficient fire escapes, stair¬ 
ways and such other means of egress in 
case of fire. 

' (f) Buildings erected prior, are exempt 
from the provisions of the Building Code 
in regard to self-closing fireproof doors on 
dumbwaiter shafts. 

Ques. 4:—Specify the course to be fol¬ 
lowed by the commanding officer of a fire 
company in a case involving the absence 
without leave for several days of a mem¬ 
ber of the force under his control. 

ANS.:—When absent member returns to 
quarters, have him make out a written re¬ 
port (upon the printed form) in the pres¬ 
ence of the then Commanding Officer and 
House Watchman, stating therein the time 
he left quarters and the time he returned, 
and giving his explanation for such ab¬ 
sence. The statement to be signed by such 
Commanding Officer and House Watch¬ 
man and the member making the same, 
and forwarded through the regular chan¬ 
nels to the Chief of Department. 

Upon the trial of charges, only the mem¬ 
bers above designated and the Command¬ 
ing Officer of the Company shall be sum¬ 
moned. 

The Commanding Officer of the Com¬ 
pany shall thoroughly investigate the state¬ 
ment made by the absentee, before the time 
set for the hearing of the charges, and ap¬ 
pear at the trial of the same as a wit¬ 
ness. 

Ques. 5:—(a) When there are no fourth 
or fifth alarm assignments to fire alarm 
boxes, what should the company com¬ 
mander do? 

(b) You receive notice that a fire alarm 
box which required the use of a key to 
open it before an alarm of fire could be 
sent in has been furnished with a keyless 
door. State in full the duty that devolves 
upon you, as foreman, in such a case. 

ANS.:—(a) Company commanders shall 
mark on the back of the cards in all of the 
alarm boxes in their districts the number 
of the next nearest station having either a 
fourth or fifth alarm assignment, stating 
the number of alarms assigned to it. 

(b) Whenever notice is received of the 
same, company commanders will imme¬ 
diately notify keyholders of that fact, with¬ 
draw all keys, and turn them in at Head¬ 


quarters, and take receipts therefor, but 
will continue to account for the boxes in 
their monthly reports as usual. 

Ques. 6:—State the rules in regard to the 
use and care of nozzles. 

ANS.:—Too much care cannot be taken 
of the nozzles, as a slight dent or rough 
surface in the nozzle at the discharge open¬ 
ing will prevent the delivery of a solid 
stream. Members are cautioned that in 
handling hose couplings, pipes and nozzles, 
the utmost care must be observed, as a 
slight dent in either renders them valueless 
for the purpose intended. After working 
salt water, the hose, pipes and nozzles shall 
be washed out with fresh water. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Weight 2. 

(Take any five of the following questions. 
Do not answer more than five. If more 
than five be answered, the first five only 
will be rated.) 

Ques. 1:—Give the substance of seven 
provisions of the Building Code which are 
designed to lessen the danger in case of 
fire to an audience in a place of public 
amusement by providing means for leaving 
quickly and safely. 

ANS.:—Every such building shall have at 
least one front on the street, and have suit¬ 
able means of entrance and exit for the 
audience, not less than 25 feet in width. 

There shall be reserved for service in case 
of emergency an open court or space in the 
rear and on the side not bordering on the 
street, where building is located on a cor¬ 
ner lot; and in the rear and on both sides, 
where there is but one frontage on the 
street. 

Widths of open courts shall be not less 
than 10 feet, where seating capacity is not 
over 1,000 people; above 1,000 and not more 
than 1,800 people, 12 feet in width; above 
1,800 people, 14 feet in width. 

All exits to lead into open courts, and 
during performances the doors or gates in 
the corridors shall be kept open by proper 
fastenings. 

From the auditorium opening into the 
open courts, or on the side streets, there 
shall be not less than two exits on each 
side in each tier from and including the 
parquet and each and every gallery. Each 
exit to be at least 5 feet in width, and pro¬ 
vided with doors of iron or wood; if of 
wood, be constructed as per Section 104 of 
the Building Code. All doors to open out¬ 
wardly and be fastened with movable bolts, 
to be kept drawn during performances. 

Balconies, not less than 6 feet in width in 
the open courts, or courts at each level or 
tier above the parquet on each side of the 
auditorium, of sufficient length to embrace 
the two exits; and staircases to extend to 
the ground level. 

Foyers, lobbies, corridors, passages and 
rooms for use of the audience, not includ- 


138 



ing aisles spaced between the seats, shall 
on the main or first floor, where seating 
capacity exceeds 500, to be at least 16 feet 
back of the last row of seats, and on each 
balcony or gallery at least 12 feet clear of 
the last row of seats. 

Ques. 2:—In a district where you are act¬ 
ing foreman, a certain firm desires to use 
a vacant lot for the storage of packing 
boxes, barrels and wooden cases. There are 
several frame houses close by. If a rep¬ 
resentative of the firm should ask your ad¬ 
vice in the matter, state the steps you would 
tell him that he must take before he can 
make use of the lot for the purpose desig¬ 
nated. 

ANS.:—Must make an application to the 
Fire Commissioner, giving the following in¬ 
formation: Name and address of the ap¬ 
plicant; location of the premises; nature of 
construction of building; maximum quan¬ 
tity of boxes, cases and barrels to be 
stored. 

No permit will be issued for any shed, 
inclosure or other structure which is not 
substantially built of brick, concrete or 
other fire-resisting materials to a height not 
exceeding 18 feet above the street level, and 
fitted with self-closing fireproof doors. 

Must not be situated within 50 feet of 
the nearest wall of a building occupied as 
a hospital, school, theater or other place of 
public amusement or assembly. 

Must not pile them to height greater than 
6 inches below the top of the inclosing wall, 
nor within four feet of any window in an 
adjoining building. 

Ques. 3:—A certain person is about to 
start in the feed business in New York City. 
The building to be used is within ten (10) 
feet of a lodging house, and it will be neces¬ 
sary at times to provide accommodation on 
the premises for the storage of over 20 
tons of hay, etc. Give the detailed exam¬ 
ination you would make of such building as 
to the kind, construction and interior equip¬ 
ment prescribed by law, so that in case of 
fire the least possible danger might result 
to life and property. 

ANS.:—The building would be required 
to be fireproof throughout, and have a per¬ 
mit issued by the Fire Commissioner. 

See that the material did not exceed in 
weight 1-3 of the safe-bearing weight capac¬ 
ity of such floor, as certified by the Bureau 
of Buildings; or covering when baled not 
more than 2-3 of the floor space of such 
floor; and that none of the material was 
piled to a greater height than 2-3 of the 
distance from the floor to the ceiling. 

That the fire extinguishing system was in 
such condition as approved by the Fire 
Commissioner, which would be stated in the 
permit. 

Ques. 4:—(a) Under what circumstances 
are rope fire escapes not required in hotels; 
(b) where such rope fire escapes are re¬ 
quired, with what specifications must they 
comply? 


ANS.:—(a) Where the windows from 
each room above the first floor open on a 
fire escape, or where there are provided 
good and sufficient fire escapes, stairways, 
or other means of egress directly accessible 
from each room or apartment. 

(b) A 1-inch manila rope or better appli¬ 
ance, used as an auxiliary means of escape; 
to be secured at one end to a suitable iron 
hook or eye, secured to one joist or tim¬ 
ber next adjoining the frame of window; 
to be kept coiled up and exposed to view 
of occupant of rooms; fastened in a slight 
manner so that it can be quickly unfast¬ 
ened; long enough to reach the ground and 
sustain 1,000 pounds of weight. 

Ques. 5:—In an automobile garage, what 
are the regulations of the Fire Department 
regarding: (1) Calcium carbide; (2) waste 
cans; (3) the keeping and using of sand? 

ANS.:—(1) All calcium carbide shall be 
kept in watertight metal containers with 
securely fastened covers; the aggregate 
quantity kept on hand not to exceed at 
any time 120 pounds. 

(2) Each floor to be equipped with self¬ 
closing metal cans; and all inflammable 
waste material shall be kept therein until 
removed from the building. 

(3) Each garage shall be equipped with 
fire buckets filed with sand and kept on 
each floor for use in extinguishing fire. A 
quantity of sand shall also be kept on each 
floor surface for absorbing waste oils. The 
quantity of sand and the number of buck¬ 
ets to be designated by the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner in the permit. 

Ques. 6:—While inspecting houses in 
your company district you note the follow¬ 
ing conditions: State in each case (a) what 
action you would take; (b) what reports, if 
any, you would make; (c) a statement of 
the reasons for your answer. 

(a) Exit doors in a large auditorium open¬ 
ing inward; (b) fire escapes on a tenement 
house obstructed with bedding; (c) a small 
grocery store selling kerosene oil without 
a license; (d) in a tenement house erected 
in 1900 the cellar door is not fireproof. 

(a) I would notify the owner or lessee 
to have the doors fixed to open outwardly, 
as it was a violation. If he refused or 
didn’t comply within a reasonable time, I 
would forward a violation report (in dupli¬ 
cate) of Section 109 of the Building Code. 

In case of fire or panic, people in try¬ 
ing to get out of the auditorium would 
likely be injured and perhaps many of 
them killed, as the doors would be an ob¬ 
struction. 

(b) I would notify the occupants to re¬ 
move the same forthwith, and inform them 
of the dangers to the occupants in case of 
fire, and that I would inspect the fire 
escapes again in a few days, and if I found 
the same conditions, that I would have them 
brought to court and fined. 

I would forward a report to the Chief 
of Department stating the facts. He would 
refer same to the Tenement Department. 


139 




Fire escapes obstructed in tenements in¬ 
terfere with escape in case of fire, and also 
hampers the firemen when it is necessary 
to use them. The Tenement House Depart¬ 
ment has charge of all fire escapes in tene¬ 
ments. 

(c) I would immediately notify the 
Bureau of Combustibles by telephone, and 
endeavor to obtain some of the kerosene; 
also secure a witness. Forward a report of 
violation of Section 766 of the Charter. 
It is a misdemeanor to sell kerosene with¬ 
out a license. It is also defrauding the 
Pension Fund annually of $10. Such vio¬ 
lation is liable to a fine of $25. 

(d) As the Tenement House Law did 
not go into effect until April 11th, 1901, the 
non-fireproof cellar door is exempt from 
the present regulations. No report neces¬ 
sary. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

FOREMAN (CAPTAIN). 

Fire Department. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. What is required when a fire alarm 
proves to be false? 

2. What rules must be observed by a 
company commander when a complaint is 
made of a civilian against a member of the 
Department? 

3. Mention five things that a foreman 
must do at 8 o’clock each morning. 

4. What course would you adopt so as 
to be in a position to settle satisfactorily 
any disputes that might arise regarding the 
quality or quantity of oats, feed, etc., re¬ 
ceived by you as company commander? 

5. If a person to whom a combustible 
notice is directed has removed from the 
address given, what facts are to be ascer¬ 
tained and reported upon? 

6. You are assigned as foreman to a new 
company. State fully the nature of the re¬ 
port you are required to make. 

7. What is required in connection with 
automatic sprinkling equipments? Answer 
in detail. 

8. In order that they may be kept in con¬ 
dition for instant use, what special care 
should be taken of fire hydrants after using 
them in cold weather? 

9. What is a foreman’s duty when private 
parties obstruct fire hydrants? 

10. Owing to use of fuel of an inferior 
quality, the engine at a certain fire does 
not work well. As foreman in control, 
what would you do in the above case? 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. Name, generally, the parts of a new 
eight-story hotel building in the City of 
New York which may be constructed of 
wood. 

2. How must naphtha be stored and kept 
in automobile stations? 


3. What provisions of law, with reference 
to the Fire Department, govern the paint¬ 
ing of telegraph poles; and what do you 
understand to be the reason for these pro¬ 
visions? 

4. Give the laws and ordinances, if any, 
that deal with the question of obstructing 
firemen when at work at fires. 

5. How would you, as foreman, proceed 
against a person who persistently main¬ 
tained an incumbrance on a fire escape? 

6. State fully the jurisdiction, powers 
and duties of the Fire Department with ref¬ 
ence to the extinction of fires on vessels; 
and also state what assistance from outside 
the Department you would seek, should 
need arise, if in command at such a fire. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

1. In regard to what matters does the 
Fire Department co-operate with the Bu¬ 
reau of Factory Inspection? 

2. Is the attaining of a place on the Roll 
of Merit a reward confined to service in 
the line of duty? Give illustrations of your 
answers. 

3. What are the conditions necessary be¬ 
fore a certificate of fitness is issued to a 
person for the care or handling of explo¬ 
sives? 

4. Name two provisions of the Building 
Code and two of the Tenement House Law 
which impose a duty on the Fire Depart¬ 
ment. 

5. When there is a big fire in any given 
section of the city, calling out all the com¬ 
panies in that section, what precautions are. 
taken to protect other portions of that ter¬ 
ritory? 

6. Members of the uniformed force, Fire 
Department, are restricted by law in the 
matter of joining certain clubs and making 
certain contributions. Give details in re¬ 
gard to the restrictions referred to. 

7. What companies would respond to a 
second alarm fire at the office of the Bor¬ 
ough President of your borough? Men¬ 
tion borough. 

REPORT. 

While at a fire, a private of the company 
of which you are foreman performs an act 
of conspicuous bravery. Assuming such 
facts as you please, write a report of the 
affair, properly dated, addressed, etc. 

(N. B.—This report should cover not less 
than one nor more than three pages, and 
must be signed by your number and not 
your name.) 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
FOREMAN (CAPTAIN). 

Fire Department. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. What legal exemptions or immunities 
are enjoyed by and what inspection restric- 


140 




tions are by law imposed upon members of 
the Fire Department? 

2. What rights and privileges are by law 
conferred upon the Volunteer Fire Depart¬ 
ments of Greater New York and their mem¬ 
bers? 

3. (a) What suits or actions may be 
brought by the Commissioner? (b) Of 
what fund or funds does he have control 
and what bonds does he give? 

4. (a) What constitutes the crime of ar¬ 
son in the first and second degrees respec¬ 
tively? (b) Mention five acts commonly 
classed as malicious mischief and state how 
severely each is punished. 

5. What are the provisions of the laws 
and ordinances regulating (a) hoistways, 
etc.; (b) stands within stoop lines; (c) ex¬ 
terior hoists; (d) retail sale of petroleum? 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. As to theater details, state fully: (a) 
All the provisions of the rules and regula¬ 
tions relating to the badges to be worn by 
them; (b) all that their reports must con¬ 
tain, when same are to be made, and what 
disposition is made of them. 

2. What do the rules prescribe as to (a) 
leaves for meals; (b) the precautions to be 
taken, company commanders in the grant¬ 
ing of all leaves; (c) the display of the na¬ 
tional standard? 

3. Describe fully the duties and responsi¬ 
bilities of a company commander as to (a) 
the uniforms of his subordinates; (b) the 
fire hydrants in his district. 

4. (a) Describe in detail the action of a 
company commander in handling a large 
fire from time of receiving alarm until re¬ 
turn to quarters; please draw a specimen of 
charges for reckless driving. 

5. Describe briefly the organization and 
duties of the house-watch. 

REPORT. 

Handwriting rated on this sheet. 

You are walking along the street, not in 
uniform, when you observe a violation of an 
ordinance which would make a fire on the 
premises very dangerous. Assuming facts 
as you please, write a report, nroperly dated 
and addressed, of the occurrence and of 
your action. Sign with number and not 
with name. 


CITY GOVERNMENT. 

1. Give one administrative function of the 
Board of Aldermen. Name two administra¬ 
tive heads of the City Government not ap¬ 
pointed by the Mayor. Give, generally, the 
matters over which each has control. 

2. Name the courts under Municipal con¬ 
trol in New York City. Name those in this 
city which are under other than Municipal 
control. 

3. What branch of the City Government 
has the right to change the size of fire dis¬ 
tricts? What are sanitary surveyors? Give 


a short description of their powers as au¬ 
thorized by the Charter. 

4. Describe the duties and powers of the 
Fire Commissioner over fire hydrants. Has 
any other department rights over fire hy¬ 
drants? If so, what are they? 

5. In what ways do the following city de¬ 
partments aid the Fire Department: Tene¬ 
ment House, Docks and Ferries, Street 
Cleaning, Building? Give also any sugges¬ 
tions that occur to you as to ways in which 
one of these departments might be of more 
service in either preventing or checking 
fires. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
FOREMAN (CAPTAIN). 

Fire Department. 

Date: October 25, 1899. 

RULES. 

1. Give the daily routine duties of a fore¬ 
man, arranged in proper order. 

2. When should the national standard be 
displayed at the peak, and when at a half- 
mast? 

3. Why is it found necessary to exclude 
peddlers from quarters? 

4. What buildings in his company dis¬ 
trict must a company commander inspect, 
and when? 

5. Why is it necessary for a foreman to 
instruct the driver in proceeding to the 
scene of a fire? 

CITY INFORMATION. 

1. Name ten buildings of different kinds 
which, in your opinion, is deserving of the 
attention of the Fire Department, and give 
your reasons in each case. 

2. Name five hotels, in the order of their 
excellence, which you consider near fire¬ 
proof, and give your reasons. 

3. Are there actually any fireproof build¬ 
ings in the city? If not, state why you 
think so, and, if so, name five, and give your 
reasons in each case. 

4. There is a large fire in the vicinity of 
Madison Square. Name and locate all the 
companies which, in your opinion, would re¬ 
spond, and describe the route of each in 
reaching the scene of the fire. 

LAWS. 

1. How many bureaus in the Fire Depart¬ 
ment. and who is the principal officer of 
each? 

2. What is the fine for a chimney fire, and 
what for a bonfire, and what disposition is 
made of such moneys when collected? 

3. What privileges of a political character 
are firemen deprived of that other citizens 
enjoy? 

4. From what legal duties are firemen 
exempt? 


141 



5. What city department was formerly a 
bureau of the Fire Department? 

6. Under what circumstances may fire¬ 
men destroy buildings, and what redress 
has the owner of same? 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
FOREMAN (CAPTAIN). 

Fire Department. 

Date: August 9, 1897. 

RULES. 

When buildings are supplied with steam, 
gas, electric power for heat, light or power, 
what is required? 

The following cases of rescue are taken 
from the records. State how you would 
make a rescue in each case: 

(a) A paralytic man is known to be on a 
fifth floor; the building is on fire under¬ 
neath and no ladders available. 

(b) An invalid woman is in a bed on the 
second floor; the first floor is impassable 
and no ladders available. 

(c) A fireman in the discharge of his duty 
becomes overcome with heat and smoke 
while working on a cellar stairs and falls 
down the cellar. How would you rescue 
him, one attempt having failed? 

Give the rules relative to inspection of 
hydrants. 

A part of Section 21, Article IV, reads: 
“They will exclude from quarters * * * 

responsible for any violation of this rule.” 
Give the rule, and the reason for its adop¬ 
tion. 

State the duties of a foreman at 8 o’clock 
roll call. 

Give the rules relative to hoisting the na¬ 
tional standard. 

What buildings must a foreman inspect 
personally? 

Give the rule relative to iron shutters. 

Make out a simple morning report. 

LAWS. 

What are the bureaus in the Department, 
and their duties? 

When is the widow or child of a deceased 
member entitled to a pension, its amount, 
and when does it cease? 

What are the provisions of law relative to 
storage and sale of cotton, hay, straw, etc.? 

(a) Storage and sale of fireworks and 
other explosives? 

State the classes of buildings required to 
provide alarms, fire extinguishers, etc. 

(b) Law relative to trap doors and iron 
shutters. 

State the duties of the Fire Marshal. 

How may officers and members be tried 
for violations of the rules, and what penal¬ 
ties may be inflicted? 

What are the legal rates of speed in the 
City of New York? 


MEMORY. 

When was the Building Department sepa¬ 
rated from the Fire Department? 1 

Who were the Fire Commissioners in of¬ 
fice when Mayor Strong took office? 

What was the date of the great fire at 
Jones’ Wood? # | 

What was the date of the fire that Chief 
of Battalion John J. Bresnan and Assistant 
Foreman Rooney were killed at? 

Name the last five Governors of the State 
and the last five Mayors of the city. 

Give the location, street and number of 
Engines 7, 11, 21, 31, 43, 45, and H. & L. 1. 
6, 15 and 22. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

FOREMAN (CAPTAIN). 

Fire Department. 

Date: January 11, 1896. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. What is the proper position for a fore¬ 
man going to, returning from, and at fires? 

2. When may the national standard be 
displayed, and when at half-mast? 

3. What buildings must have stop cocks 
on the outside for steam and gas and shut¬ 
offs for electricity? 

4. What is the rule for iron shutters? 

5. When are hinged folding ladders al¬ 
lowed? 

6. Give the rules relative to inspection of 
hydrants. 

7. Give the duties of a foreman in charge 
of spare apparatus. 

8. What are the rules relating to appa¬ 
ratus passing, answering or returning from 
fires? 

9. Give the duties of a foreman on receiv¬ 
ing and responding to alarms of fire. 

10. On whom does the responsibility rest 
for the care of the engine, and whose duty 
is it to see that duty performed? 

LAWS. 

1. How many bureaus in the Department? 

2. How may members be removed? 

3. State the law relative to the demolition 
of buildings. 

4. State the law relative to the relief fund. 

5. What are the requirements for mem¬ 
bership? 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
FOREMAN (CAPTAIN). 

Fire Department. 

Date: January 13, 1896. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. State the duties of a foreman. 

2. In what manner must officers and mem 
salute? 

3. What report does a foreman make af¬ 
ter a fire, and to whom? 


142 





4. What are the rules governing the ad¬ 
mission of visitors to quarters? 

5. What are the duties of a foreman when 
repairs are required? 

6. What are the rules relative to testing 
hose? 

7. What record of hydrants must a fore¬ 
man keep? 

8. State the duties of a foreman relative 
to permits and licenses for storage and sale 
of combustibles and explosives in his dis¬ 
trict. 

9. What must be done with hydrants after 
being used in cold weather? 

10. Under what conditions can a member 
of the school of instruction be excused from 
attending? 

LAWS. 

1. How many Fire Commissioners are 
there, and how elected? 

2. Give briefly the law relative to storage 
and sale of gunpowder and other high ex¬ 
plosives, and by whom regulated. 

3. Whose duty is it to investigate alleged 
violations of discipline, or non-performance 
of duty? 

4. Who are entitled to pensions, and from 
what fund? 

5. In what places must lights be pro¬ 
tected? 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

FOREMAN (CAPTAIN). 

Fire Department. 

Date: December 26, 1895. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. Give the duties of a foreman in respect 
to care of apparatus and other property in 
his charge. 

2. What buildings within his company 
district is it his duty to inspect? When 
must he inspect hotels and when must he 
report? 

3. What persons must be excluded from 
quarters? 

4. What report should a foreman make 
after a fire? 

5. State the duties of a foreman at 8 
o’clock roll call. 

6. Send a special call for Engine Com¬ 
pany 20 to special building, Station 391, and 
a special call for Hook and Ladder 20 to 
Automatic Station 215. 

7. Call half of No. 4 Patrol. 

8. Give the rule relating to scuttles and 
bulkheads. 

9. State the article and section relating to 
hydrants. 

10. State the article and section relating 
to receiving and responding to alarms of 
fire. 


LAWS. 

1. What buildings are required by law to 
have fire escapes? 

2. What is the law relative to obstructed 
hydrants? 

3. What is the law relative to hoistways? 

4. What is the law relative to hose 
bridges? 

5. What is the law relative to right of 
way? 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

FOREMAN (CAPTAIN). 

Fire Department. 

Date: July 5, 1894. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. State what you consider the duties of a 
foreman. 

2. State the care of apparatus, tools and 
horses. 

3. Give the principal G. O. relating to the 
Department. 

4. Give the law relative to the storage and 
sale of combustibles. 

5. How should hydrants be cared for? 

6. Send special call for Engine Company 
No. 16 to Station 567 and boat tender No. 
2 to Station 212. 

7. State the care of public property in 
possession of a foreman. 

8. Replace a bursted length of hose un¬ 
der the cornice of a five-story building. 

9. What pressure is required at the pump 
to give an effective stream of water work¬ 
ing through twelve lengths of hose, on a 
five-story building? 

10. State the law relative to obstruction 
of fire escapes. 


New Jersey Civil Service Com’n. 
CAPTAIN. 

Fire Department, Newark. 

Date: 1914. 

EXPERIENCE. 

1. Have you ever been previously exam¬ 
ined by this Commission? 2. If so, for what 
position? 3. Were you successful in the ex¬ 
amination? 4. Do you use intoxicating bev¬ 
erages? If so, to what extent? 5. Have 
you any defect of limb, hand or foot? 6. 
Have you any defect of sight or hearing? 
7. What is your exact weight? 8. What is 
your exact height? 9. Have you any dis¬ 
ease or deformity? 10. What is the present 
state of your health? 11. With respect to 
your education, state fully and in detail 
the names and locations of the schools you 
have attended. 12. What is your age? 13. 
How many years have you been in the De¬ 
partment? 14. How many years have you 
been a Lieutenant? 15. Have you ever been 


143 




in charge of a .fire where you were com¬ 
pelled to use your own judgment? If so, 
state circumstances. 16. Were you ever 
commended for bravery, heroism or gal¬ 
lantry? If so, state by whom and under 
what circumstances. 17. Have you ever 
been penalized or suspended from the De¬ 
partment? If so, state cause and penalty or 
term of suspension. 

WRITTEN REPORT. 

At a recent apartment house fire, at which 
you acted as Company Commander and also 
was the first to arrive, two of your men at 
great personal risk saved an aged woman 
from a third-story apartment. One of your 
men was seriously injured by a falling wall 
and a quantity of hose was damaged. 

As Company Commander, write a com¬ 
plete official report addressed to the proper 
authority. 

This report should be not less than one 
page nor more than two pages in length. 

Sign with your examination number. Do 
not use your name. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. State in detail what inspections a Cap¬ 
tain in the Newark Fire Department is re¬ 
quired to make, or should make, daily, and 
mention the various things in the Fire 
House which he should take special note of. 

2. To what extent is the Captain respon¬ 
sible for the conditions and care of all the 
fire apparatus and other supplies in quar¬ 
ters? What plan would you follow in order 
to insure the readiness of all apparatus at a 
moment’s notice? 

3. Describe in detail the rules governing 
the action of the Company Commander in 
handling an important fire in his district, 
from the time of receiving the alarm until 
his return to quarters. 

4. What authority have Captains to grant 
leaves of absence? If one of your men re¬ 
ceived a telegram from Philadelphia asking 
him to come at once, what action would 
you take? 

5. John Smith, a member of your com¬ 
pany, is charged by your Lieutenant with 
insubordination and using abusive language 
at a recent fire. State fully the duties of 
the Captain in this connection and the 
method of procedure until the case is finally 
disposed of. 

6. How many men are permitted at one 
time on a 15-foot ladder at a fire? How 
many on a 20-foot ladder? How many on a 
30-foot ladder? How many on a 35-foot 
ladder? 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. Under the law, what constitutes a tene¬ 
ment house? What are the requirements as 
to fire escapes on such buildings? 

2. What fire appliances must be installed 
in a new office building 75 feet in height? 

3. What is meant by a “fireproof build¬ 


ing,” “slow-burning building,” “mill con¬ 
struction”? 

4. A fireman is injured at a factory fire 
by falling through an open trap door. What 
claims has he for damages recovered? 

5. Mention two requirements of the Build¬ 
ing Department which are designed to in¬ 
sure protection from fire. Mention two 
other departments of the city government 
which are required to co-operate with the 
Fire Department in the prevention of fire 
and explain in what way these departments 
co-operate. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

1. On the way to a second-alarm fire 
with your company you find the streets 
blocked as the result of a collision between 
two trolley cars, both of which are on fire. 
Several persons, seriously injured, are im¬ 
prisoned in the wreck. There are two po¬ 
licemen present and a large crowd rapidly 
gathering. What would you do under the 
conditions? Give reasons for your answer. 

2. On arrival at a first-alarm fire on an 
upper floor of an office building the Bat¬ 
talion Chief directs you to stretch a line of 
hose to the roof of a 4-story adjoining 
building and go to work. State in detail 
what orders you would give, how you 
would distribute your men, and the meth¬ 
ods you would use in actually carrying out 
the order. 

3. Assuming that there are six compa¬ 
nies responding to a fire in a 6-story build¬ 
ing of “slow-burning” construction and it 
is found that the fire has made considerable 
headway and has already reached the fifth 
floor by way of the elevator shaft and stair¬ 
way, outline a good plan of attack. 

4. State in full the duties of a Hook and 
Ladder Company on arrival at a fire and 
explain in what ways its duties differ from 
those of an Engine Company. 

5. Mention three kinds of manufacturing 
establishments in Newark in which it would 
be extremely dangerous to fight fire. State 
for what reasons and in what ways fire¬ 
fighting in these places would be danger¬ 
ous and outline the methods you would 
adopt in attacking a fire which had gained 
considerable headway in each of the above- 
named kinds of plants. 

6. You are made Captain in a district in 
which a great many fires have recently oc¬ 
curred, both in the manufacturing plants 
in the district and in the resident sections. 
The high fire record of this district is due 
partly to the kind of manufacturing car¬ 
ried on and partly to the class of people 
living in the district. The former Captain 
had trouble in keeping his men, as a num¬ 
ber of them resigned and others had ob¬ 
tained transfers to other districts, giving 
as their reasons a dislike for the neighbor¬ 
hood and the class of people. Outline a 
plan by which you would hope to meet the 
problems involved and raise the standard of 
efficiency of your company. 


144 



New Jersey Civil Service Com’n. 
CAPTAIN. 

Fire Department, Newark. 

Subjects of examination and relative 
weights: Experience, record for efficiency 
and personal fitness, -5; written report, 1: 
duties, 4. 

EXPERIENCE. 

This will cover a general examination on 
the past experience and education of the 
applicant. 

WRITTEN REPORT. 

“One member of your company makes 
a violent assault on another, injuring him 
to the extent that a doctor has to be called 
in to attend the injured man.” 

Make a report of the case to the proper 
official, giving all the essential particulars 
and placing on record such facts as may be 
needed to dispose of the case later. 

DUTIES. 

1. What are the chief duties of a Captain 
of the Newark Fire Department? 

2. Under what circumstances would a 
Captain assume command at a fire? When 
would he be relieved of this responsibility? 

3. To what extent must a Captain be fa¬ 
miliar with the buildings in his district? 

4. In making an inspection of buildings, 
what points would you especially note and 
whv, in (a) a 6-story factory, (b) a school 
building, (c) a theater? 

5. What men must a Captain always re¬ 
tain in quarters? 

6. To what extent is a Captain respon¬ 
sible for the horses at his quarters? An¬ 
swer fully. 

7. In case a piece of apparatus under your 
command was on the way to a fire and a 
man was knocked off and dangerously hurt, 
what would you do? 

8. Explain the essential features of the 
fire-alarm system of Newark. 

9. Explain what is meant by, and state 
what are the signals of, (a) first alarm, (b) 
second alarm, (c) third alarm. 

10. If your apparatus was on the way to 
a fire and some one, say one of the Fire 
Commissioners, told yr u that the fire was 
extinguished and directed you to return to 
quarters, what would you do? 

11. Explain what is meant by high-pres¬ 
sure service and state in what way this 
service is obtained in Newark. 

12. State in detail what you would do, and 
how you would go to work if you were or¬ 
dered to stretch a line of hose up fire es¬ 
capes to the sixth floor 

13. What course would you follow if a 

member of a company under your command 
should absent himself for several days with¬ 
out leave? . 

14. Suppose that on returning from a hre 


you found the hose frozen and covered with 
ice, what would you do? 

15. State what apparatus you would use 
and how you would proceed in case there 
was a fire in a cellar, the stairway and ele¬ 
vator shaft being blocked, and no entrance 
from the outside. 

16. What apparatus is provided and how 
is it used to throw large streams of water 
from the ground or from a wagon? 

17. How would you attempt to rescue 
persons on the 8th floor of an office build¬ 
ing, there being no fire escape, and access 
by stairways and elevators entirely shut 
off? 

18. To what extent is provision made.for 
the protection of property on the river 
front? What recommendations, if any, 
would you make for more efficient protec¬ 
tion? 

19. State approximately the fire limits of 
the city. 

20. State any improvement in the methods 
of fire-fighting or equipment which you con¬ 
sider would make for more efficient service 
in the Newark Fire Department. 


Civil Service Commission of San Francisco. 
PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN. 

Fire Department. 

Date: May 23, 1914. 

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF DUTIES. 

(NOTE:—The figures in parentheses after 
the questions show the weights of these ques¬ 
tions.) 

Q. 1. What records is the Captain required 
to keep in the Property Book? (5) 

Q. 2. What records is the Captain required 
to keep in the Supply Book? (5) 

Q. 3. What records is the Captain required 
to keep in the Journal? (5) 

Q. 4. What is your duty with regard to vis¬ 
itors at a fire house? (2) 

Q. 5. What are the regulations regarding 
daily inspection at the fire house and prepara¬ 
tion of report thereon? (3) 

Q. 6. Give the regulations regarding the 
house watch, and the duties of the Captain 
with respect thereto. (3) 

Q. 7. Describe an automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tem and its use in the extinguishment of fires. 
( 10 ) 

Q. 8. At what kinds of fires are the follow¬ 
ing used to the best advantage? (a) Water 
Tower; (b) Battery; (c) Truck; (d) Chem¬ 
ical Engine? (8) 

Q. 9. (a) Describe briefly the high-pressure 
system, (b) What territory does it protect? 
(c) On what occasions should.it be used? (d) 
What is the method of using it? (15) 

Q. 10. Write out the Department code sig¬ 
nals calling for Chemical No. 4, Battery No. 
3, Truck No. 5 and Engine No. 27 to be sent 
to box 138, from which you are signaling. 
Show all the signals used by you and the Fire 
Alarm Operator’s replies. (12) 



Q. 11. (a) Name six of the most dangerous 
acids, oils or explosives and state how you 
would guard against danger from them in a 
building exposed to a fire, (b) How would 
you attack a sulphur fire in a basement? (12) 

Q. 12. As a Captain of a fire company you 
are ordered by your Battalion Chief to make 
an inspection of your district. Describe five 
common violations you have discovered of the 
ordinances and regulations for preventing 
fires. (10) 

Q. 13. At a fire in a ten-story hotel which 
has no fire escapes the elevators are disabled 
and the stairways are cut off by fire in the 
first three stories. You are directed to attend 
to saving the lives of the inmates in the upper 
stories. State what you did. (10) 

WRITING OF REPORT—Weight 100. 

You are Captain in command of an engine 
company called on a still alarm to a fire in a 
4-story brick building, and find the fire burn¬ 
ing fiercely throughout the third story. There 
is one low pressure fire hydrant 150 feet away 
from the building and another 300 feet away. 
There is a high-pressure fire hydrant 175 feet 
away from the building The first floor is oc¬ 
cupied by a dry goods store and the upper 
floors for storage of merchandise This build¬ 
ing is equipped with standpipe and fire escape. 

Write a report addressed to the Chief En¬ 
gineer of the Fire Department in not less than 
150 words describing what you did in the per¬ 
formance of your duty at this fire. 

NOTICE.—In this report make no personal 
references, and use only the address given you. 
Do not sign this report with your name, ini¬ 
tials or address, or with any assumed name, 
initials or address. Any identification marks 
will exclude your entire examination papers. 

- ARITHMETIC. 

(Five questions at twenty (20) credits each.) 

No credit will be allowed for an answer 
without the work. 

(Show all your work in full.) 


Q. 1. A city has forty-five companies in its 
Fire Department. Each company has a Cap¬ 
tain, receiving a salary of $150 a month; a 
Lieutenant, receiving a salary of $135 a month, 
and twelve men each receiving a salary of $120 
a month. What does it cost the city yearly to 
maintain these forty-five companies? 

Q. 2. The Fire Department purchases the 
following: 

5 fire engines at .$4,285. each 

15 horses at . 375. each 

7 trucks at . 3,750. each 

20,000 feet of hose at. .85 per ft. 

486 sacks of coal at. .43 per sack 

What is the total amount of these purchases ? 

Q. 3. In 1912 the uniform force of the Fire 
Department consisted of 782 men, who were 
paid a total for salaries of $1,126,207. What 
was the average amount paid per man? 

Q. 4. Pumping Station No. 1 delivers 1,824 
gallons of water per minute. One-half of this 
supply is used by a fire in the wholesale dis¬ 
trict ; one-third of it is used by a fire in the 
Mission; and the remainder of it is delivered 
into the Twin Peaks Reservoir. How many 
gallons are delivered to each in five minutes? 

Q. 5 In the fiscal year 1911-1912 the appro¬ 
priation for the San Francisco Fire Depart¬ 
ment was $1,561,000. The sums paid out for 
salaries were as follows: 


Corporation Yard .$ 61,506.85 

Harness Shop . 6,306.90 

Horseshoeing Shop . 6,975.00 

Hydrantmen . 8,583.35 

Office . 8,930.95 

Paint Shop . 7,980.35 

Stables . 16,070.00 

Uniform Force .1,126,207.97 

Materials and Supplies. 235,999.99 


What was the total cost of running the De¬ 
partment, and how much money remained un¬ 
expended at the close of the year? 


146 
















BATTALION CHIEF 


Answers to Examination Questions, New York City, and 
Specimen Questions, New York City, Newark and 

Chicago. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
PROMOTION TO BATTALION CHIEF. 

Fire Department. 

Date: Aug. 25, 1914. 

NOTE:—The following answers were 
written in January, 1916, and are in accord¬ 
ance with the laws in force in January, 1916. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Weight 1. 

(To be finished at 12.30 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—You observe the following at 
fires at which you are present: 

(a) State in each case whether the condi¬ 
tion is a violation of the law. 

(b) Give the essential provisions of the 
law governing each case. 

(1) A manufacturer of mattresses is stor¬ 
ing excelsior on the top floor of his factory 
in a room which is 25x100. It is piled from 
the floor to within three feet of the ceiling, 
which is nine feet from the floor. 

(2) A paint store on the ground floor of 
a tenement house has self-closing fireproof 
doors, a transom glazed with wire glass and 
the windows between the store and the hall 
glazed with extra thick French plate glass. 

(3) A very large main entrance in a thea¬ 
ter serves as a means of entrance and of 
exit for the main floor and the first and sec¬ 
ond galleries. 

(4) There is nitro-glycerine in a retail 
drug store. 

(5) There is a bakeshop in the basement 
of a tenement house and a bakery store on 
the ground floor, with a dumbwaiter from 
the basement through the store to the up¬ 
per floors of the house. 

(6) There are 100 reels of moving picture 
films in the storage room of a moving pic¬ 
ture theater. 

(7) In an elevator apartment house the 
elevator doors are not self-closing and the 
dumbwaiter shaft, which is situated in the 
well of the stairs, is not fireproof. 

ANS.:—(1-a) If the quantity stored occu¬ 
pied two-thirds of the cubical contents of 
the room, it was in excess of two tons and 
was a violation, if stored without a permit 
from the Fire Commissioner. While the 
law provides that no combustible fibers can 
be stored in a factory in excess of two tons, 
this would not apply where the use of com¬ 
bustible fiber was incident to the business. 


Being piled to a height of six feeet, it is not 
a violation, but nothing is said of the area 
of floor space occupied. If this material 
covered more than two-thirds of the floor 
space or exceeded one-third of the safe 
bearing weight of the floor, it would be a 
violation. 

(1-b) The law provides that quantities in 
excess of two tons must have a permit is¬ 
sued by the Fire Commissioner for its stor¬ 
age, containing the name, address, construc¬ 
tion of building and quantity stored to ob¬ 
tain such permit. 

Not to be stored within 50 feet of the near¬ 
est wall of a school, hospital, theater or 
other place of public amusement or assem¬ 
bly, or in a tenement house, hotel, work¬ 
shop or factory, except as above specified. 
Wooden construction is not permitted for 
such storage, except in sparsely populated 
districts; where paints, varnishes or lacquers 
are manufactured, stored or kept for sale: 
where dry goods, or other highly inflamma¬ 
ble materials are stored or kept for sale; 
where matches, resin or turpentine or any 
explosives are stored or kept. And build¬ 
ing must be equipped with a fire-extinguish¬ 
ing system approved by the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner. 

Not to be piled more than two-thirds of 
the height from floor to ceiling, nor cover 
more than two-thirds of the floor area, or 
exceed one-third of the safe bearing-weight 
of the floor, as certified by the Bureau of 
Buildings. Violation of this law is punish¬ 
able as a misdemeanor. 

(2-a) The transom being wire-glass and 
the door being fireproof and self-closing, is 
not a violation, but the windows in the hall 
glazed with French plate-glass are in viola¬ 
tion of the Tenement House Law. 

(2-b) The Tenement House Law provides 
that all windows opening into the hall from 
any portion of a tenement house where 
paints, oils, spirituous liquors or drugs are 
stored for the purpose of sale or otherwise, 
shall be glazed with wire-glass, or closed 
up as solidly as the rest of the wall. And 
the doors opening from such places into the 
hall must be fireproof. ' 

(3-a) This is a violation, as the Building 
Code provides that distinct and separate 
places of entrance and exit shall be pro¬ 
vided for each gallery above the first; this 
provides for two galleries using the main 
exit. 

(3-b) The Building Code provides, as 
above stated, and in addition states that a 


147 




common place of exit and entrance may- 
serve for the main fioor of the auditorium 
and the first gallery, provided its capacity 
be equal to the aggregate capacity of the 
outlets from the main floor and the said 
gallery. 

(4-a) Unless stored in U. S. pharmaco¬ 
poeia solution or in the form of pills, tablets 
or granules containing not more than one- 
fiftieth of a grain each, it would be a viola¬ 
tion. 

(4-b) The law provides that it shall be 
permitted in a retail drug store only as 
above stated. 

(5-a) This is a violation. 

(5-b) The Tenement House Law provides 
that there shall be no communication by 
door or window, dumb-waiter shaft, or oth¬ 
erwise, between the bakery and the upper 
portions of the tenement house. An excep¬ 
tion is made where no fat-boiling is done 
in the bakery, or no fat-boiling apparatus 
on the premises, to have a dumbwaiter shaft 
between the bakery and the store, enclosed 
in 8-inch brick walls and with fireproof 
doors, so arranged that when door is open 
or partly open the other door must be 
closed. 

(6-a) This would be a violation, as the 
law requires that no storage will be permit¬ 
ted within 50 feet of the nearest wall of 
any building occupied as a school, theater or 
other place of public amusement or assem¬ 
bly. A moving picture theater would fall 
within the above prohibition. 

(6-b) More than ten reels, or 10,000 feet, 
cannot be stored without a permit from the 
Fire Commissioner. No permit can be is¬ 
sued for storage in places above stated, or in 
a tenement house dwelling or a hotel, in a 
building of wooden construction, or unless 
equipped with an approved system of auto¬ 
matic sprinklers. Film must be stored in 
separate fireproof rooms, the fittings of 
which must be fireproof. No heat other 
than steam or hot water will be allowed, and 
no forge, torch, boiler, furnace flame or fire 
will be permitted where films are stored. 

(7a) The fact of the doors to elevator not 
being, self-closing is not a violation, as the 
Building Code requires that gates must be 
operated by the attendant of the car and 
must be controlled from the inside of the 
car. The non-fireproof dumbwaiter shaft 
in the well of the stairs would be a viola¬ 
tion, unless the stairs were enclosed in brick 
enclosure, when the case cited would not be 
a violation. 

7-b) The Tenement House Law provides 
that no shaft shall be constructed of mate¬ 
rials in which any inflammable material or 
substance enters into any of the component 
parts, but nothing in this section contained 
shall be so construed to require such en¬ 
closure about elevators or dumbwaiters in 
the well-hole of stairs where the stairs them¬ 
selves are enclosed in brick or stone walls 
and entirely constructed of fireproof mate¬ 
rial as hereinbefore provided. 

The Building Code covers the case as 
above cited regarding the self-closing doors 
on the elevator shaft. 


Ques. 2:—Give a detailed account of the 
circumstances under which the Fire Com¬ 
missioner is authorized and empowered to 
cause the removal of a ship from one part 
of New York Harbor to another. 

ANS.:—In case of fire occurring on any 
vessel in the Port of New York, or any 
dock, wharf, pier, warehouse or other struc¬ 
ture bordering on or adjacent thereto, full 
power and authority to direct and. command 
the operation of extinguishing said fire and 
to prevent same from extending to the ship¬ 
ping in said Port or to the docks, wharves, 
piers or warehouses is vested in the Fire 
Department of the City of New York. The 
officer of the Fire Department in command 
at such fire may prohibit the approach to 
such fire or to any vessel, dock, pier or ware¬ 
house or any structure in danger therefrom, 
of any tugboat or other vessel; or may re¬ 
move or cause to be kept away from the vi¬ 
cinity of such fire all tugboats or other ves¬ 
sels not actually and usefully employed., in 
his judgment, in aiding in the extinguish¬ 
ment of such fire, or the preservation of 
property in the vicinity thereof. Obstruct¬ 
ing the operations of the Department, or 
refusing to obey lawful commands of the 
officer in charge of the fire, is punishable 
by a fine of $500. Nothing contained in 
this law shall be construed to limit the au¬ 
thority of the master or officers of any such 
vessel on fire, subject to the general author¬ 
ity granted to the Fire Department to con¬ 
trol the operations to protect the public in¬ 
terests. 

In addition, provision is made for the 
owners or masters of vessels carrying ex¬ 
plosives, or explosive material in excess of 
the amount required for the ship’s own use, 
for signalling and life-saving purposes, be¬ 
fore approaching nearer than 1.000 feet of 
the pier line, to obtain a permit from the 
Fire Commissioner; and the retention for 
more than 48 hours, on board of any ship 
lying at a pier dock or bulkhead, of any ex¬ 
plosives or explosive material in excess of 
the amount, required for the ship’s own use 
for signalling or life-saving purposes is 
prohibited. Under these conditions the Fire 
Commissioner may order the change of 
location of a vessel to the powder anchor¬ 
age, or other isolated place. 

Ques. 3:— During a great conflagration, it 
becomes necessary to pull down a certain 
building in order to prevent the spread of 
the fire. Under such conditions 

(a) Name the official who orders the de¬ 
struction of the house; 

(b) Describe how the work of destruc¬ 
tion is actually accomplished; 

(c) Explain the precautions that must be 
taken in executing the work of destruction; 

(d) State how the owner of the property 
destroyed is compensated for his loss. 

ANS.: (a) The officer in command of the 
fire. 

(b) By the Sappers and Miners’ Corps un- 
der the direction of the officer in charge 
° f l-i ,^ e ’ to Ievel and destroy such building 
or buildings by the use of explosives. This 


is the law in the matter, but the results ob¬ 
tained in the San Francisco fire do not seem 
to justify the use of explosives indiscrim¬ 
inately. In this fire the black powder used 
started fires, and the Firemen were handi¬ 
capped in extinguishing the fire by not 
knowing where to expect the next explo¬ 
sion. The use of high explosives, if explo¬ 
sives are used, was recommended by the 
Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department 
from the experience gained at that fire. 
The explosive should be placed at the foot 
of supporting columns in buildings intended 
to be destroyed, and fired by battery. 

(c) Use only high explosives, preferably 
by men of experience, and avoid destruction 
of gas and water pipes by having same shut 
off. 

(d) By applying to the Supreme Court 
for the County or any adjoining County in 
the Judicial Department in which the build¬ 
ing is situated, to issue a precept for a jury 
to inquire into and assess the damages 
which the owners or others interested have 
sustained by reason of the pulling down or 
destruction of the building or its contents; 
and the proceedings shall be as nearly as 
possible as in the case of land taken for 
public purposes; and the said inquiry and as¬ 
sessment having been confirmed by the 
oCurt, the sums assessed shall be paid by 
the City of New York to the persons in 
whose favor the jury shall have assessed 
the same. 


Ques. 4:—(a) What are the important 
provisions of the law regarding: 

Storage of boxes and barrels in vacant 

Storage of baled hay and of unbaled hay? 

Fireproof construction of interior floor 

lights? . ... 

Keeping, selling and transporting calcium 
carbide? 

(b) How must inflammable moving pic¬ 
ture films be stored? Under what circum¬ 
stances should they be examined, repaired 
and pieced when in storage? How are such 
storage rooms to be lighted? How furnished 
and specially equipped? 

ANS.—(a) Boxes and Barrels.—When 
stored in excess of 2,000 cubic feet a permit 
must be secured from the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner. Must be enclosed by a substantial 
fence, not less than 10 feet nor more than 
18 feet above the street level, unless adjoin¬ 
ing building has an unpierced fire wall, in 
which case no fence is required on this side 
of the building. The storage space shall 
be completely separated from any window 
or door openings in the wall of any adjoin¬ 
ing building by a substantial fence of fire- 
retarding material of a height satisfactory 
to the Fire Commissioner, erected at least 
6 feet from such opening and extended at 
least 6 feet on each side thereof and con¬ 
tinued to the sides of the enclosure or car¬ 
ried to the walls of the building. 

Wooden packing cases or barrels shall 
not be piled to a height greater than 6 
inches below the top of the inclosing wall 
as stated. Excelsior, sawdust and waste pa¬ 


per packing material shall be removed from 
the premises at least once daily. Electric 
motors shall be enclosed in an approved 
manner. At least twelve water buckets, of 
10 quarts’ capacity each, shall be provided 
for each 2,500 feet of floor space, or in lieu 
thereof, hose of at least 1-inch diameter 
with a nozzle of at least }4-inch diameter, 
sufficient in length to reach all parts of the 
enclosure, must be provided. 

Hay.—Permit required where the quan¬ 
tity stored exceeds one ton, except in rural 
communities outside of fire limits. No per¬ 
mit shall be required for the storage of hay 
and straw in barns or outdoor stacks, where 
such stacks are not within 50 feet of any 
building occupied as a dwelling. The an¬ 
nual fee for 10 tons and over is $10; over 5 
tons and less than 10 tons, $5; over 1 ton 
and less than 5 tons, $2. No permit shall 
be issued for such storage in any building 
or premises within 50 feet of the nearest 
wall of any building occupied as a school, 
hospital, theater or other place of public 
amusement or assembly, or occupied as a 
tenement house or a hotel, of wooden con¬ 
struction, except in sparsely populated dis¬ 
tricts, where it shall be in the discretion 
of the Fire Commissioner to grant permit, 
which is not equipped with a fire-extinguish¬ 
ing system approved by the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner, where paints, varnishes or lacquers 
are manufactured, stored or kept for sale; 
where dry goods or other highly inflamma¬ 
ble materials are manufactured, stored or 
kept for sale; where matches, resin, turpen¬ 
tine or any explosives are stored or kept. No 
person shall store upon any floor of a build¬ 
ing any of this material in weight exceeding 
one-third the safe bearing-weight of the 
floor, as certified by the Bureau of Build¬ 
ings, or covering, when baled, more than 
two-thirds of the floor space of such floor, 
and the material shall not be piled to a 
greater height than two-thirds of the dis¬ 
tance from the floor to the ceiling. 

Floor lights for transmission of light to 
floors below shall be constructed of metal 
frames and bars or plates, and if any glass in 
same measures more than 16 square inches, 
the glass shall be provided with a mesh of 
wire, either in the glass or under the same, 
and the floor lights shall be of the same 
proportional strength as the floors in which 
they are placed. 

Calcium Carbide stored in excess of 120 
pounds requires a permit from the Fire 
Commissioner. The cans, drums or contain¬ 
ers shall be constructed of tin, iron or steel, 
without the use of solder, and be closed in 
such manner as to be air and water-tight, 
and shall be conspicuously marked “CAR¬ 
BIDE: DANGEROUS IF NOT KEPT 
DRY.” When stored in excess of 600 pounds 
it shall be in approved metal packages above 
ground in one-story buildings, without cel¬ 
lar or basement, and used exclusively for the 
storage of calcium carbide. Such buildings 
shall be constructed so as to be dry, water¬ 
proof and well ventilated, and shall be lo¬ 
cated outside congested mercantile and man¬ 
ufacturing districts. If the storage building 


149 


is of incombustible construction, it may 
adjoin other one-story buildings if sepa¬ 
rated therefrom by an unpierced fire wall. 
If the storage building be a detached struc¬ 
ture, and located less than ten feet from 
such one-story structures there shall be no 
openings in the adjacent walls of either 
building. If the carbide building is of com¬ 
bustible construction, it must not be within 
20 feet of other one or two-story buildings, 
nor within 30 feet of buildings over two 
stories. 

The building used for such storage shall 
have a sign displayed on the outside thereof 
bearing in letters at least 12 inches high the 
words “CALCIUM CARBIDE: USE NO 
WATER.” No permit for the storage of 
calcium carbide in excess of 600 pounds 
shall be permitted in any building which 
is not exclusively used for such purpose; 
or which is situated within 50 feet of the 
nearest wall of any building used as a hos¬ 
pital, school, theater or other place of public 
amusement or assembly; or which is of 
wooden construction. 

(b) The storage in excess of 5 reels, or 
more than 5,000 feet, requires a permit from 
the Fire Commissioner. No permit for the 
storage of moving picture films shall be 
issued for any building which is situated 
within 50 feet of the nearest wall of any 
building used as a school, theater or 
other place of public amusement or 
assembly ; which is occupied as a tene¬ 
ment house dwelling or hotel; which is arti¬ 
ficially lighted by any means other than elec¬ 
tricity; which is of wooden construction; 
which is not equipped with an approved sys¬ 
tem of automatic sprinklers; which does not 
contain one or more rooms used exclusively 
for the storage of such films. The room 
vault or compartment used for the storage of 
inflammable moving picture films shall not 
be lighted except by electric lights having 
air-tight bulbs, globes or tubes enclosed in 
suitable wire cages, and fitted with keyless 
sockets. All examining, repairing and piec¬ 
ing together of films shall be done in a room 
used for no other purpose, and separated 
from the rest of the building by fireproof 
partitions and self-closing fireproof doors. 
All furniture and fittings in a room where 
repairs are made shall be of metal or other 
fireproof material. Not more than 10 reels, 
or more than 10,000 feet, shall be under ex¬ 
amination or repair at one time, and each 
reel of film shall be in a tightly closed metal 
box when not being examined or repaired. 
Each room where repairs are made shall 
contain a metal can in which all pieces of 
waste and scrap film shall be placed and 
kept covered with water. No smoking shall 
be permitted in these rooms, and the super¬ 
vision of the plant must be under a person 
holding a certificate of fitness from the Fire 
Commissioner. No collodion, amyl, ace¬ 
tate or other inflammable cement in quan¬ 
tities greater than one quart shall be kept 
in a room where inflammable films are 
stored or repaired. The premises must be 
equipped with a number of sand and water 
buckets, satisfactory to the Fire Commis¬ 


sioner. No heat other than steam or hot 
water, and no stove, torch, boiler, furnace, 
flame or fire, and no electric or other appli¬ 
ance likely to produce an exposed spark, 
shall be allowed in any room used for the 
storage or repair of inflammable motion 
picture films. 

Ques. 5:—In a contemplated hotel struc¬ 
ture, to be 12 stories high, what protection 
from fire will be required? 

N. B.—In your answer consider the pass¬ 
ing of plans, material to be used, fire appli¬ 
ances to be installed, fire escapes, inspec¬ 
tions, etc. 

ANS.:—Plans must be submitted to and 
approved by the Superintendent of Build¬ 
ings in the Borough in which the hotel is to 
be erected. These plans should also be 
submitted to the Fire Commissioner for ap¬ 
proval regarding doors, halls and passage¬ 
ways; stairways, exterior and interior; ele¬ 
vators and elevator shafts; ladders or stairs 
to roof and to cellars and sub-cellars; roof 
openings and scuttles and bulkheads for 
purposes of exit to roofs; fire escapes, exte¬ 
rior and interior, including towers, bridges 
and tunnels; the fireproof construction, fire¬ 
proofing, fire walls, chimneys and flues and 
the installation of light, heat and power; 
floor and roof openings for the in¬ 
stallation of hoistways, dumbwaiters, con¬ 
duits and pipes; the protection of windows 
and other openings in walls by fireproof 
shutters, sills or sashes, or by wire-glass 
construction. 

The Code requires that every residence 
building over 40 feet in height, except tene¬ 
ment houses, and having more than 15 sleep¬ 
ing rooms, shall be built fireproof; this 
building falls in this class. The exterior 
walls must be of approved masonry or re¬ 
enforced concrete construction. All metal 
members that support loads must be en¬ 
cased in fireproofing materials, securely ap¬ 
plied, and not less than 2 inches thick for 
interior columns. The filling between the 
beams shall be arches or slabs, of brick, 
terra cotta, stone, concrete, or cinder con¬ 
crete placed as required by the Superintend¬ 
ent of Buildings; partitions of brick, terra 
cotta, concrete or fireproof blocks, metal 
lath covered with portland cement, and 
properly supported at the floor. No wood¬ 
work or other combustible material shall be 
used in the floors, ceilings, partitions, fur- 
rings or other interior finish in this build¬ 
ing. Floor sleepers, door bucks and grounds 
may be of wood, provided they are not ex¬ 
posed on any side. If this building did not 
exceed 150 feet, the doors and windows and 
their frames, the trim, casings and other 
“tenor finish when filled solid at the back 
with fireproof material, and the flooring, 
may be of wood. If over 150 feet in height, 
all the above would have to be of incom¬ 
bustible material. If less than 150 feet, a 
4 inch standpipe would be required, and if 
over 150 feet a 6-inch standpipe would have 
to be provided, with one standpipe for each 
street frontage, proper Siamese connections 
and with hose outlets on each floor; suffi- 


cient hose attached to reach all parts of the 
floor, one or more watchmen, interior alarm 
system, diagrams in rooms, signs in halls; 
buckets, extinguishers, hooks and axes, and 
pump for standpipe supply. Fire escapes 
must be provided satisfactory to the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings and the Fire Com¬ 
missioner. Inspections would be made dur¬ 
ing the course of construction by the In¬ 
spectors of Buildings and the Bureau of 
Fire Prevention to see that the material 
used was as required by law and the appli¬ 
ances installed in a proper manner. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
Weight 1. 

Ques. 1:—You are in command at a fire 
which has partially consumed a building 
wherein were located a large clothing man¬ 
ufacturing business on upper floors, a fur¬ 
niture salesroom on ground floor, and a 
printing establishment in basement. The fire 
seems to be subdued. Explain carefully the 
particular matters you would look to, be¬ 
fore ordering the men to quarters and leav¬ 
ing the scene of the fire. 

ANS.:—Make a careful examination of 
the building to make sure the fire was ex¬ 
tinguished, and both during and after the 
fire examine the surrounding buildings to 
make sure the fire had not extended to the 
other buildings. Special care should be ex¬ 
ercised in going through the building as to 
the different occupancies. Each one has 
hazards of a different character and should 
be carefully examined. In the clothing fac¬ 
tory material used will absorb water, and 
if in large quantity may be a danger to floors 
weakened by fire. The oil and gasoline used 
in these places should be looked after, 
if not destroyed, and this precaution also 
applies to the varnishes and combustibles 
stored and used in the furniture salesroom. 
The danger of fire remaining in the paper 
and the benzine used in the printing plant 
require attention, and care should be exer¬ 
cised in sending the men into a place 
loaded with these heavy materials which had 
been weakened by a fire. Inquiry should be 
made of the owners and occupants if any 
property is missing which had not been 
destroyed by the fire, so that an investiga¬ 
tion can be made while on the ground. The 
examination should cover, if possible, the 
cause of the fire, and, if necessary, call the 
Fire Marshal. Also see that the businesses 
carried on were in possession of the proper 
permits from the Bureau of Fire Prevention, 
if required. 

Ques. 2:—(a) What are the duties of Bat¬ 
talion Chief? 

(1) At a fire? 

(2) At company quarters? 

(3) In cases of false alarms? 

(4) Regarding reports of fires? 

(5) Regarding animals burned? 

(b) Enumerate all of the reports which a 
Battalion Chief is required by the rules of 


the Department to send to Headquarters by 
telephone. 

ANS.:—(a-1) When first at a fire, assume 
command and exercise complete control un¬ 
til the arrival of a superior officer, and then 
notify him of the action taken in regard to 
the fire. Cause all companies not needed at 
the fire to promptly return to quarters. See 
that fires are properly extinguished so they 
will not rekindle. Shall upon arrival at and 
return from stations where he is first due, 
immediately transmit to Headquarters by 
telephone a brief report of the fire, to be 
followed later by a written report giving the 
full particulars, shall also forward a report 
of any fire at which he may have performed 
duty, keeping record of same in Fire Record 
Journal. Immediately notify the Chief of 
Department, if he be not present, of im¬ 
portant fires or extraordinary happenings, 
by telephone. In cases where accidents, 
deaths or other important matters occur, 
and in the event of any animals being 
burned, immediately notify the Department 
of Health and the American Society for the 
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Shall, 
whenever loss of life, injuries to persons or 
damage to property occur as the result of 
accidents at fires or alarms in their district, 
or to members of companies in their battal¬ 
ion, immediately report thereon to the Op¬ 
erator at Headquarters, make a thorough 
and careful investigation into the cause, and 
report the result, giving a list of persons 
killed or injured and the damage, whether 
trifling or considerable. All such investi¬ 
gation must be made immediately after the 
occurrence, and a written report forwarded 
without delay. 

(a-2) Shall visit each company and De¬ 
partment building over which he may have 
supervision in his Battalion district at least 
twice each week, and inspect the company 
journals, apparatus, horses, hose, tools, im¬ 
plements, men and everything in and about 
quarters and buildings thoroughly and care¬ 
fully, and enter over his signature on the 
company journals the condition of every¬ 
thing as he finds it. See that the companies 
are properly manned, and make proper de¬ 
tails to this effect. Name a day in each week 
for companies under hjs command to clean 
quarters and apparatus, and, if possible, not 
allow adjoining companies to clean on the 
same day. Visit the fuel depots under his 
command and see that premises are kept 
clean and in proper condition; fuel wagons 
properly loaded and cleaned, and a sufficient 
amount of coal on hand. 

(a-3) Ascertain from the officer first at the 
fire the cause of the false alarm, and make 
every effort to have such persons arrested 
and convicted. 

(a-4) Reports of operations at fires in all 
Boroughs shall be forwarded by Company 
Commanders to Chiefs of Battalion, the 
same to be forwarded with Battalion Chiefs 
reports to the Battalion Chief first due at 
the fire, who shall make out a consolidated 
report of all operations, giving full infor¬ 
mation as required by fire record cards. 
These reports are then forwarded to the 


Deputy Chief present at the fire, if assigned, 
and he will state in the column of remarks 
the exact time he arrived at the fire, the 
time he remained on duty and the time he 
returned to quarters. Deputy Chiefs in all 
Boroughs will examine, sign and forward all 
such reports to the Chief of Department. 
Duplicate reports of all fires in the Bor¬ 
oughs of Brooklyn and Queens shall be on 
file in the office of the Deputy Chief in 
charge of these Boroughs. 

(a-5) This is covered in answer to Ques¬ 
tion (a-1). 

(b) 1. On arrival at and return from sta¬ 
tions where first due, a brief report of the 
fire. 2. Notify the Chief of Department of 
important fires or dangerous happenings, 
where he is not present. 3. Notify the De¬ 
partment of Health and the American Soci¬ 
ety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani¬ 
mals, of animals burned at fires. 4. When¬ 
ever loss of life, injuries to persons or dam¬ 
age to property may occur as the result of 
accidents at fires or alarms in their districts, 
or to members of companies in their Battal¬ 
ion. 5. Notify the Fire Marshal in case of 
suspicious fires. 6. On return to duty from 
a leave of more than 24 hours’ duration. 

Ques. 3:—State clearly all of the actions 
you are required to take by the rules of the 
Department under the following circum¬ 
stances: You respond as Chief of Battalion 
first due at Station 789. You are informed 
by the Captain of Engine 53 upon his ar¬ 
rival that while driving along Third Avenue 
he noticed a large water main broken and 
the water spouting high into the air. The 
Lieutenant in command of Engine 58 re¬ 
ports the illness of one of his men while re¬ 
sponding to the fire and states that he has 
sent him to the hospital. The fire is in an 
old stable containing about fifty horses; 
these are being driven out of the building by 
Policemen. You learn upon your arrival 
that the fire has spread to the old-law tene¬ 
ment on each side of the burning stable and 
that several horses have been burned to 
death in their stalls. 

ANS.:—Notify the Captain of Engine Co. 
No. 53 to send a man to the telephone and 
notify the Department of Water Supply, 
Gas and Electricity of the broken main and 
its probable effect on the water supply for 
the fire. Notify the Lieutenant of Engine 
Co. No. 58 to have one of his men immedi¬ 
ately call up a Medical Officer and have him 
visit the hospital forthwith to ascertain the 
cause of this man’s illness, which is suspi¬ 
cious, and I would go to the hospital on my 
way back from the fire and make an inves¬ 
tigation of the circumstances myself. The 
fire having spread to the old-law tenements, 
I would send in additional alarms as re¬ 
quired by the extent of the fire, have the 
tenants removed from the tenements on fire 
and endangered, by the truckmen and Po¬ 
lice, and also have them get the horses out 
of the stable. Notify the Chief of Depart¬ 
ment of the fire by telephone, he not being 
present, and also the Department of Health 
and the American Society for the Preven¬ 


tion of Cruelty to Animals of the horses 
burned at the fire. The lines from compa¬ 
nies would be placed so as to cover the ten¬ 
ements and prevent the spread of the fire in 
this direction. Surround the stable with 
lines to confine and extinguish the fire. 

Ques. 4:—(a) What are the provisions of 
the rules relative to applications for trans¬ 
fer? As Battalion Chiet, what general con¬ 
siderations would guide you in approving 
such applications? 

(b) Under what conditions and restric¬ 
tions may leaves of absences be granted at 
the discretion of Battalion Chiefs and Com¬ 
manding Officers? 

ANS.:—(a) Applications for transfer in 
the uniformed force must be in the hand¬ 
writing of the applicant and over his signa¬ 
ture, stating truly and fully the necessity 
therefor, and forwarded through regular 
channels to the Commissioner, with the ap¬ 
proval or disapproval of intermediate offi¬ 
cers and reasons therefor indorsed thereon. 
Members of the uniformed force shall not, 
directly or indirectly, solicit the influence or 
intercession of any person with the Com¬ 
missioner to effect their transfer. I would 
take into consideration, first, the needs of 
the Department, and then if there was no 
objection on this score and a man was trying 
to get nearer home or had some other good 
reason, I would recommend his transfer. In 
my opinion, results are much better in the 
majority of instances where men are sta¬ 
tioned convenient to their homes. 

(b) Battalion Chiefs may in their discre¬ 
tion grant leaves of absence to Captains and 
Lieutenants in their Battalion for a period 
of 12 hours (in addition to regular leaves of 
24 hours every fifth day) when such leaves, 
in their opinion, may be granted without in¬ 
jury to the service, and except when other¬ 
wise ordered by a superior officer. Not 
more than three such leaves shall be granted 
in any one calendar month. Commanding 
officers may in their discretion grant leaves 
of absence to members and Probationary 
Firemen, excepting Lieutenants of their 
commands, for a period of 12 hours (in ad¬ 
dition to regular 24-hour leaves every fifth 
day) when such leaves, in their opinion, 
may be granted without injury to the serv¬ 
ice, and except when otherwise ordered by 
a superior officer. Such leaves may be with¬ 
held as a disciplinary measure. No more 
than four such leaves shall be granted in 
any one calendar month. They shall have 
power to grant leaves not to exceed l l / 2 
hours, in extraordinary cases. When more 
than two consecutive 12-hour leaves have 
been stopped a special report shall be for¬ 
warded to the Chief of Department, stating 
the reason therefor. In case of the danger¬ 
ous illness of the wife, child, parent, brother 
or sister of a member, leaves of absence may 
be granted for a reasonable period by Bat¬ 
talion Chiefs, and in case of death of any of 
the foregoing relatives of a member, leaves 
of absence for a proper period may be grant¬ 
ed by Battalion Chiefs, such leaves not to 
exceed three days in duration, and the cause 


of all such leaves entered in the company 
journal and report forwarded to the Chief 
of Department. 

Ques. 5:—(a) Explain how “double com¬ 
panies” are composed, and give an account 
of how such companies should be handled so 
as to produce the most satisfactory results in 
the performance of their duty. 

(b) Describe the manner in which fire ap¬ 
paratus should be handled (before and af¬ 
ter use) when it becomes necessary to take 
water from the East River for use at a fire. 

ANS.:—(a) Companies equipped with a 
double set of apparatus, and with a number 
of men increased beyond the usual stand¬ 
ard, shall be known as double companies. 
Immediately after roll call each day, the 
officers commanding double companies 
shall divide them into two sections. The 
first should consist of two officers and two 
engineers (if three officers and three en¬ 
gineers are present for duty) and as many 
Firemen as necessary, with one set of ap¬ 
paratus complete. The second section 
should consist of the remaining officers, en¬ 
gineers and Firemen, with the remaining set 
of apparatus complete. The first section 
shall respond to the first call to duty re¬ 
ceived, and the second section thereupon 
immediately made ready to respond to all 
stations to which the company may be as¬ 
signed, or to such special calls as may be 
received. It is left discretionary with the 
Company Commander after the first section 
returns to quarters from an alrm of fire to 
again place it on duty as the first section or 
to change it to the second section by 
strengthening the other. 

(b) When the apparatus is placed at the 
river to draw salt water the suction joints 
and all connections must be perfectly tight, 
feed valves and branching from main pumps 
closed, the churn valve seated, relief valve 
cut out, and air valves on top heads of 
pumps to be open before engine is started. 
The boiler shall be supplied with fresh wa¬ 
ter from line of hose, or from tank, which 
may be temporarily filled from buckets or 
with salt water, if necessary. After the 
pumps are thoroughly primed, the air valves 
on top heads of pumps will be closed. Up¬ 
on returning to quarters after working salt 
water the engine shall be connected with 
hydrant and main pumps thoroughly washed 
out. 

REPORT—Weight 2. 

(To be finished by 5 P. M.) 

Ques.:—Write a report of about 300 
words giving from your own knowledge or 
experience reasons in favor or against the 
proposed repeal of the ordinance which 
makes it necessary for garage owners to 
prevent oil from flowing into the sewers. 

Do not sign any name, number, initials, 
title or any identifying mark to this report. 
If you do you will be disqualified. 


ANSWER: 

New York, August 28, 1914. 

Municipal Civil Service Commission, 

City of New York. 

Gentlemen: 

I have the honor to submit herewith my 
report, giving my reasons from my own 
knowledge and experience against the pro¬ 
posed repeal of the ordinance which makes 
it necessary for garage owners to prevent 
oil from flowing into the sewers. 

During the past ten years, the number of 
garages, public and private, in the city has 
grown to enormous proportions, and at the 
same time the explosions from accumula¬ 
tions of gasoline in the sewers have been 
numerous. It is absolutely necessary that 
some means be provided to prevent this 
waste oil from reaching the sewers, and 
this is the reason for the compulsory instal¬ 
lation of the oil separators. As stated, pre¬ 
vious to the installation of the separators, 
explosions in the sewers where manhole 
covers were blown into the air for blocks at 
a time, people injured and killed and prop¬ 
erty damaged, was a frequent occurrence. 
It has abated considerably, only by placing 
these separators in the garages, granting 
that they do not accomplish everything 
claimed for them. 

If there is no provision made to keep the 
owners of garages from allowing waste oil 
and gasoline to reach the sewers, a repeti¬ 
tion of these accidents is inevitable, with 
the additional danger of the accumulation 
of oil floating on the surface to the sewer 
outlet, where, as has already happened, the 
necessary spark will be found to set the oil 
aflame, igniting the docks in the vicinity. 
While, as already stated, the separators do 
not do all that is claimed for them, they pre¬ 
vent a large quantity of waste oil from 
reaching the sewers, and will no doubt be 
improved on later. At the present time 
we must accept the best means at hand and 
make effort to prevent, as far as possible, 
damage to life and property from this cause. 

If the owners of the garages are willing 
to help by emptying these separators as re¬ 
quired they will be doing a service to them¬ 
selves and the public generally. 

Very respectfully, 


Date: Aug. 26, 1914. 
ADMINISTRATION—Weight 6. 

(To be finished at 1 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—In Sketch No. 1 is shown a sec¬ 
tion of Brooklyn which is built up mostly 
with two and three-story frame, shingle- 
roof dwellings and apartment houses, with 
some scattered groups of two and three- 
story brick, metal-roof dwellings and apart¬ 
ment houses; in two locations in this section 
there are small mercantile districts. For 


153 





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154 


Sketch relating to Question 1 on Administration, examination for Battalion Chief, August 26 , 1914 . 































































































































































































































































































































































155 


Assignment Cards to be used in connection with Question 1 on Administration, examination for Battalion Chief, August 26, 1914. 


























































about one mile on each side of the section 
shown in the sketch the construction is prac¬ 
tically the same. The streets range from 60 
to 80 feet in width. 

The Deputy Chief of the Division in 
which your battalion is located is away on 
leave, and you are in charge. You are ab¬ 
sent from your quarters, inspecting the 
companies in the Division you have charge 
of. It is summer, and very dry. There is 
a twenty-mile wind blowing from the south¬ 
west. On your arrival at one of the com¬ 
pany quarters in this Division you receive 
word by telephone that a third alarm has 
been sent in from Box 2548 for a fire in a 
four-story and basement, joisted brick cork 
factory and a two-story frame wood-work¬ 
ing plant with a large lumber yard; all ad¬ 
joining and exposing one another. You are 
also advised that flying brands are going 
into the air and appear to be carried long 
distances by the wind, and it is reported 
that several dwellings have started in each 
of the locations, “A,” “B” and “C,” shown in 
the sketch. Assume that it is your duty to 
handle the entire situation, what would you 
do and give the order in which you would 
do it. 

ANS.:—Immediately on my arriving at 
this fire I would have a fourth alarm trans¬ 
mitted from Station 2-548, and place the 
companies to cover the lumber yard and to 
leeward side of the fire to prevent its spread. 

I assume from the description in the ques¬ 
tion, viz., the wind and dry shingle roofs, 
that there is danger of a quick-traveling fire, 
and to prevent this I would immediately 
transmit a simultaneous call from Station 
2-556 for station about two miles to the west 
of the fire. On the arrival of these compa¬ 
nies I would have Chief Officer meet them 
at Station 2-556 and direct them two or 
three to each fire as required. 

I assume that each of these three later 
fires has been covered with one company be¬ 
fore I have been notified of the fires, viz., 
by the company covering on third and fourth 
alarms, or by a company sent by the Cen¬ 
tral Office. I would expect to receive on 
this simultaneous call a sufficient number 
of Chief Officers to send one at least to each 
fire, and he would keep me apprised of the 
conditions. 

A fire of the character described, swept 
by a strong wind through a frame district, 
would have to be handled quickly and with 
plenty of apparatus and good water pres¬ 
sure. Accordingly, I would have the De¬ 
partment of Water Supply notified to in¬ 
crease the water pressure, send an emer¬ 
gency crew to the scene of the fire, and be 
prepared for any accident to the water sup¬ 
ply. Notify, through the Police Depart¬ 
ment and through the H. & L. companies, 
persons in surrounding buildings, especially 
on the leeward side of the fire, to close all 
skylights, windows, iron shutters and all 
openings through which sparks or flying 
brands might enter the buildings, and to 
provide pails of water and lay out all auxil¬ 


iary apparatus, to extinguish any incipient 
fires. 

Use the chemical tanks on hose wagons or 
trucks by having them patrol the district 
to the leeward of the fire, and use all avail¬ 
able men and hose wagons for this purpose. 

In the placing of the streams I would 
have the turrets on wagons supplied with 
3 3-inch lines and placed to leeward of the 
main fire to kill the fire and drive it back. 
Where long stretches are necessary in an 
outlying district of this character, lines 
should be Siamesed so as to get powerful 
heavy streams; and a battery of these 
streams placed to the leeward of the main 
fire would prevent its spread. 

Ques. 2:—A fire occurs on the forty-sec¬ 
ond floor of an office building having an 8- 
inch standpipe with a 254 -inch hose con¬ 
nection on each floor and a Siamese steam¬ 
er connection outside of the building. A 
low pressure hydrant capable of supplying 
SOO gallons per minute at ten pounds pres¬ 
sure and a high pressure hydrant are 150 
feet from the Siamese connection. You 
require 154 -inch and one 1^-inch noz¬ 
zles on the forty-second floor. The 154-inch 
nozzle is supplied from the forty-third floor, 
and the 1^4-inch nozzle is supplied from the 
forty-first floor. Each line has 100 feet of 
254-inch hose. Assume that you carry 40 
pounds pressure on the 154 -inch nozzle and 
that you require 200 feet of hose to reach 
from either hydrant to the Siamese con¬ 
nection: 

(a) How much water will you discharge 
through the 154 -inch nozzle? 

(b) What pressure will you have on the 
154 -inch nozzle? 

(c) What pressure would you carry at 
the engines or at the high pressure hydrant? 

(d) How would you supply the standpipe, 
and if you use engines what size engines 
would you use, and how would you use 
them? 

ANS.:—Both lines being used on the for¬ 
ty-second floor, the head loss in standpipe 
must be computed from this floor. For 
42 stories, allowing 12J4 feet to a story, it 
would be: 

42 

1254 

21 

84 

42 


525 feet head 
.434 


2100 

1575 

2100 


227.850 lbs. pressure required to overcome 
head loss in standpipe. 


156 




With 40 pounds pressure on a lJ4-inch 
nozzle the discharge would be: 

1.25 

1.25 

625 

250 

125 


1.5625 square of diameter of nozzle. 


6*3 — sq. root of nozzle pressure 

V40.00 

36 

123)400 

369 

120 + 3 
3 


360 + 9 

1.56 sq. of diameter of nozzle 
6.3 sq. root of nozzle pressure 

468 

936 


9.828 

29.9 barometric pressure 


88452 

88452 

19656 


293.8572 gallons discharged on lJ4-inch 
nozzle at 40 lbs. nozzle 
pressure. 

To deliver this 40 pounds on l^-inch noz¬ 
zle through 100 feet of 2^-inch hose, the 
pressure required at the standpipe outlet 
on forty-second floor would be: 

.248 

2 

.496 + 1.1 = 1.596 X 40 = 63.840, or approx¬ 
imately 64 lbs. 

And with 64 pounds at standpipe outlet 
for the lJ4-inch nozzle with 100 feet of 2 54- 
inch hose, the nozzle pressure would be: 

.167 

2 

.334 

1.1 


1.434)64.000(44+ lbs. pressure on 1 Y%" 
5736 nozzle 

6640 

5736 


And with 44 pounds pressure on 1^-inch 
nozzle the discharge would be: 

1.125 

1.125 

5625 

2250 

1125 

1125 


1.265625 = sq. of diameter of nozzle. 

6.6 = sq. root of nozzle pressure. 

V 4400 
36 

800 

756 

120 + 6 
6 


720 + 36 

1.26 = sq. of diameter of nozzle 
6.6 = sq. root nozzle pressure 

756 

756 


8.316 

29.9 barometric pressure 


74844 

74844 

16632 


248.6484 gallons discharge on 1^-inch 
nozzle at 44 lbs. pressure. 

We now have the water required for both 
nozzles, as follows: 

lX~i n ch nozzle, 40 lbs. nozzle pres¬ 
sure, 294 gals. 

1^-inch nozzle, 44 lbs. nozzle pres¬ 
sure, 249 gals. 


Total 543 gals. 

To deliver this water at the high pressure 
required it would be reckless to put such 
pressure on the high pressure system, unless 
there were no other means of doing the 
work. The high pressure stations could de¬ 
liver the water and pressure required, as the 
individual pumps are good for 3,500 gallons 
per minute at 300 pounds pump pressure. 
But, as stated, in preference to taking a 
chance of the system breaking down, I 
would only call for this high pressure in an 
extreme case. 

I would accordingly do this work with 
two first size engines or three second size 
engines. 

Assuming that I am using two first size 
engines. I would couple both engines to the 
low pressure hydrant, stretch two lines of 
200 feet of 3-inch hose from each, run two 
of the lines to the Siamese connection on 
front of building, and the other two connect 
to standpipe outlets on first and second 

















floors by taking off the hose on outlets and 
putting on increaser from 2^-inch to 3-inch 
on each outlet, and then using the double 
female 3-inch swivel connection. This would 
give me four 3-inch lines to standpipe, with 
each line required to deliver one-quarter of 
the 543 gallons required on both nozzles, or: 

Va) 543 

134 gallons each. 

The friction loss for this flow in 3-inch 
hose would be approximately 2 pounds per 
100 feet of hose, or 4 pounds in the 200 feet. 

Now, to summarize, we require: 

64 lbs. at standpipe outlet 42nd floor. 

228 lbs. head loss in standpipe. 

4 lbs. loss in feed lines to standpipe 
from both engines. 

296 pressure required 
Less 10 lbs. on hydrant 

286 net pressure developed by both en¬ 
gines. 

No friction loss is taken for connections 
owing to the small amount flowing in indi¬ 
vidual lines and the standpipe being 8-inch. 
Both nozzles are assumed to be taken from 
the forty-second floor, because the one 
taken from the forty-third gains in coming 
down to forty-second floor the amount of 
the head lost in going to the forty-third in 
the standpipe; and the line from forty-first 
floor loses in coming up the stairs to the 
forty-second floor the increased pressure, 
due to being taken from the forty-first floor, 
making both lines practically being taken 
from forty-second floor. 

No mention is made in this question in 
reference to the house pump, with which all 
these high buildings are equipped, and I as¬ 
sume that the answer required is for only 
steamers of high pressure system. 

Ques. 3:—A standard automatic sprinkler 
equipment is installed in each of the follow¬ 
ing buildings: 

(1) Wholesale drug house carrying a 
large stock of paints, oils, acids and am¬ 
monia in the basement; mill-constructed 
floors; walls, brick; open ceilings; five sto¬ 
ries and basement in height; area, 8,000 
square feet; elevator and stair open. 

(2) Dry goods warehouse with goods in 
cases; ordinary joisted floors; walls brick; 
open ceilings; six stories and basement in 
height; area 10,000 square feet; elevator and 
stair in brick enclosure. 

(3) Cooperage plant with barrel storage; 
ordinary joisted floors; walls brick; ceil¬ 
ings part open and part wood sheathed; two 
stories in height; area 30.000 square feet; 
barrel conveyor; stairs and elevators open. 

(a) In which building do you consider the 
sprinkler equipment would be least efficient 
and least reliable, and why? 

(b) In which building do you consider the 
sprinkler equipment would be most efficient 
and reliable, and why? 


ANS.:—(a) I would consider the sprink¬ 
ler system least efficient in the cooperage 
plant on account of the large area, poor con¬ 
struction, vertical and horizontal openings 
unprotected, and the nature of the stock. ! 
Sprinklers are at a disadvantage where large 
hollow stocks are stored, as in this case, and 
the dust shavings and other waste in a 
plant of this kind would cause a quick¬ 
spreading fire which would be liable to get 
beyond sprinkler control. In addition, this | 
kind of a plant is rarely kept warm enough ] 
in the winter months to prevent freezing 
of the sprinklers, and would necessarily be 
a dry system, which would be an additional 
handicap. 

While the drug house is of small area 
and open ceiling, drug houses are notori¬ 
ously quick burners and hard to get into in 
case of fire, and the open stairway and ele¬ 
vator would be a serious defect, allowing 
the heat and smoke to ascend to upper por¬ 
tion of the building, and would no doubt 
cause so many heads to open that the sys¬ 
tem would be useless. There is always 
present the danger of an explosion, even 
when substances are stored in the most up- 
to-date manner. The Tarrant fire several 
years ago will give an idea of the possibili¬ 
ties in a drug house fire. 

(b) The dry goods house is, to my mind, 
the safest and best of the three from the 
sprinkler standpoint. While of medium area 
and height, and with enclosed stairways and 
elevator, and the naturally heavy construc¬ 
tion required for a warehouse, and the 
goods being in cases in bulk, a fire must nec¬ 
essarily spread slowly in a place of this 
kind. The sprinklers should extinguish it 
immediately, and if proper watchman serv¬ 
ice was maintained a minimum of water 
damage should result. The only handicap 
to the sprinklers in this building would be 
the joisted ceiling, and that would be nil 
if sprinklers were installed in compliance 
with Underwriters’ regulations. 

Ques. 4:—What would be your proce¬ 
dure if called and in command under the 
following conditions: 

(a) A burst steam pipe in the engine room 
of a large factory. 

(b) A badly leaking ammonia pipe in a 
refrigerating plant. 

(c) A building collapsed due to adjacent 
excavation. 

(d) What is the danger from shafts, and 
how should it be met in fire fighting? 

(e) What precautions in construction are 
desirable? 

(f) What inspections of shafts in the line 
of fire prevention are desirable? 

(a) I would try and get the engineer of 
the plant, or some person with a knowledge 
of conditions in the boiler room, and, if nec¬ 
essary, use a stream to cool off the room by 
spraying, and to protect the man trying to 
close the valve. Have the truck men calm 
and remove the occupants from the building. 
When valve is closed, bank the fire with 
dampened ashes or fresh coal. Close the 
drafts on boiler, and see that same was not 
interfered with nor any water allowed to 


158 



be fed into same until it was thoroughly 
cooled and the valve repaired. The building 
should be thoroughly ventilated by the win¬ 
dows, and if possible keep doors leading up 
through building (if any) closed to keep 
steam from going up through building and 
alarming occupants unnecessarily. 

(b) The first thing is to cover the build¬ 
ing with ladders and get the occupants out 
before being overcome by the fumes. Use 
spray streams to scatter the fumes and 
make it possible to reach the valve and shut 
off the supply tank of ammonia. The build¬ 
ing should be thoroughly ventilated at all 
openings and men should work in pairs, 
care being taken to see that they were not 
overcome. The Vajen Bader Smoke Mask 
should be used by the man or men trying to 
close the valve. In some of these plants the 
valves that are to be closed and the ones to 
be left alone are designated so that Fire¬ 
men may handle same intelligently. Since 
the recent organization of the Rescue Com¬ 
pany. the proper thing to do would be to 
special call this company immediately on ar¬ 
rival at an alarm of this kind. Most of these 
plants that are up to date are equipped with 
ammonia helmets to meet accidents of this 


kind. t 

(c) Immediately notify the Building De¬ 
partment, so as to have building made safe, 
so men can get to any persons who may be 
buried in collapse. Notify Police Depart¬ 
ment, so street can be closed to prevent ac¬ 
cidents to the curious. Have lines of hose 
stretched in order to be ready in case any 
fire shows. Notify the Chief of Department 
of the conditions found, and the number 
of persons killed or injured, if ascertainable, 
and also give the facts to the Central Of¬ 
fice. Care should be exercised in sending 
men in to a collapse as serious accidents 
(more serious than the original) have result¬ 
ed from lack of judgment. 

The Building Code requires the Street 
Cleaning Department and the Park De¬ 
partment to co-operate with the Fire De¬ 
partment in cases of this kind to remove the 
debris and recover those killed or injured. 

(d) The great danger from shafts is the 
spread vertically of fire through same where 
unprotected by brick or other substantial 
fireproof enclosure, allowing fire to mush¬ 
room on the top floor, if covers of shafts are 
not immediately removed. The proper way 
to meet this danger is by immediately ven¬ 
tilating at roof of any shaft; and in the case 
of cellar or sub-cellar fires to cover the shaft 
with lines to prevent the upward spread of 
the fire. There is also danger of men fall¬ 
ing into shafts where same are not pro¬ 
tected with the gates or railings required 
by law, or where same have been burned 
away. Care should be exercised in entering 
a building after a fire to avoid accident in 

these cases. • 

(e) All shafts should be constructed in 
compliance with the provisions of the Build¬ 
ing Code and Tenement House Laws The 
Building Code requires that all light and 
vent shafts shall be constructed of brick 
or other fireproof material and carried three 
feet above the roof. The requirements for 


elevator shaft are the same, except in ware¬ 
houses or factories of non-fireproof con¬ 
struction, where brick enclosure walls are 
required. The openings in these walls must 
be protected with fireproof doors, or shut¬ 
ters, and a skylight provided three-quarters 
the area of the shaft. Dumbwaiter shafts, 
except such as do not extend more than 
three stories above the basement or cellar 
in dwelling houses, shall be enclosed in 
walls of brick or burnt clay blocks set in 
metal frames to extend three feet above the 
roof and with fireproof doors at all open¬ 
ings. The Code requires that all buildings 
hereafter or heretofore erected where shafts 
extend into the cellar shall be enclosed in 
walls of brick, unless already enclosed in 
some form of construction conforming with 
the requirements hereinbefore prescribed 
for new dumbwaiter shafts, having all open¬ 
ings in said walls provided with fireproof 
doors. , , . 

(f) They should see that the shaft is con¬ 
structed in compliance with the law govern¬ 
ing the particular type of shaft being in¬ 
spected, as to doors, enclosure walls, etc.; 
that doors are in good working order; that 
there are no accumulations of rubbish in or 
adjacent to the shafts; and see that clothes¬ 
lines in light and vent shafts are removed, 
as they have been the cause of the quick 
upward spread of many fires. Particular at¬ 
tention should be given to the skylights 
covering shafts; that they are constructed 
in compliance with the Code, as this form 
of construction automatically ventilates the 
shaft and building and also prevents the en¬ 
try of sparks or brands from an outside ex¬ 
posure. 

(To be finished at 4.30 P. M.) 


Ques. 5:—In Sketch No. 2 the five build¬ 
ings marked “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” and “E” 
are three to five-story, ordinary joisted brick 
structures; each has unprotected elevator 
and stair openings on all floors. In build¬ 
ings “A” and “E” there are unprotected 
window openings above the third floor over¬ 
looking the roof of building C. Building 
“C” has a large frame lantern extending 
practically the entire length of the roof 
The floors in buildings A and E are 
supported by unprotected cast-iron columns. 
Buildings “A,” “C” and “D” are occupied 
as garages with automobile storage on each 
floor; buildings “B” and “E are occupied 
as livery and boarding stables with the stab¬ 
ling of horses in the basement and on the 
second and third floors. Budding 
across the 60-foot street from building C 
is a part joisted brick and part fireproof pub¬ 
lic school, four stories and basement in 
height. Building “G” across the 60-foot 
street from building “A" is a twelve-story 
and basement fireproof apartment house. 
The other buildings in the immediate vicin- 
itv are as shown on Sketch No. 1, 

The Chief of the Fire Department is on 
an extended leave of absence and the Acting 
Chief is in Tottenville inspecting a hire ue- 
partment house. You are Acting Deputy 
Chief and in charge. You are at a third 


159 


alarm fire at Box 552 at 10.30 in the morn¬ 
ing when school is in session. An automo¬ 
bile on the first floor of building “C” ig¬ 
nites; the gasolene tank explodes, throwing 
burning gasoline over a number of other 
automobiles, which take fire and their tanks 
explode, spreading the fire over practically 
all of the first floor. An alarm is turned in 
from Box 560, followed immediately by a 
telephone alarm giving the exact location 
of the fire. You are notified of this at once. 
On account of the close proximity of the 
school, and in consideration of the fact 
that you have just succeeded in getting the 
first fire under control, you decide to re¬ 
spond to the second fire. You arrive imme¬ 
diately after the first alarm companies and 
find that not only the entire first floor of 
building “C” is involved, but that the fire 
has already spread to the second and third 
floors and through the frame lantern, seri¬ 
ously endangering the unprotected windows 
in the walls of buildings “A” and “E.” 

(a) State the commands you would give 
and the order in which you would give 
them. 

(b) What additional apparatus would you 
call, and why would you call it? 

(c) What apparatus would you expect to 
find at the fire on your arrival? 

(d) Using the letters designating the hy¬ 
drants, where would you locate the engines 
you summon? 

(e) What size and length of lines would 
you lay, and what size nozzles would you 
use? 

(f) What pressure would you carry on 
the engine closest to the fire, and what 
pressure would you carry on the engine 
farthest from the fire? 

(NOTE:—This question is typical of the 
severity of civil service examinations for 
the New York Fire Department within re¬ 
cent years. It should be noted that this is 
an examination for Captains seeking promo¬ 
tion to the position of Battalion Chief, yet 
this question requires the candidate to as¬ 
sume that he is not only an Acting Deputy 
Chief, but also Acting Chief of Department 
to a certain extent.—EDITOR.) 

ANS.:—(a) On reaching the above fire I 
would know the exact conditions as to the 
number of companies I had left at the first 
fire and would be governed accordingly in 
transmitting additional alarms. 

I assume from the question that the first 
fire being just under control, the companies 
due there are still at work, with the possible 
exception of the water tower No. 3. I 
would immediately transmit a fourth alarm 
from Station 560 and send for water tower 
No. 3. Notify the principal of the school to 
order a fire drill and take the pupils away 
from the fire zone and hold them in lines 
to prevent possible injury by arriving ap¬ 
paratus^ The question shows buildings “A” 
and “E” to be serious exposures, more seri¬ 
ous than the other surrounding buildings, 
and would have to be covered first. The 
horses would have to be removed as soon 
as possible by the hook and ladder compa¬ 
nies and Police. The shutters and windows 


on surrounding buildings would have to be 
closed, and all auxiliary apparatus in these 
buildings got in readiness to prevent the 
fire from extending into these buildings. 
The Acting Chief of Department would be 
notified of the danger and extent of the 
fire. 

(b) The only additional apparatus called 
would be water tower No. 3 and the fourth 
alarm as stated above. 

(c) On my arrival at the fire I would find 
engine company No. 33 covering engine 23 
and the second section of hook and ladder 
company No. 35; and in addition, as stated, 

I would send for the tower, and the fourth 
alarm should bring me the companies left! 
in quarters, as follows:—Second alarm: sec-! 
ond section of engine company No. 26 and 
hook and ladder company No. 2. Third 
alarm: engine companies 1 and 21 and hook 
and ladder company No. 24. Fourth alarm: 
engine companies 56, 44, 14, 16 and 76, a to¬ 
tal of nine engine companies and three hook 
and ladder companies. 

(d) Engine company No. 3 should have 
the hydrant in front of the fire “S.” Stretch 
two. lines of 3-inch hose and fill out with 
2^-inch hose and 1^-inch nozzles, and send 
one line into building “E” and one into 
building “A” to the fourth floors of these 
buildings, and drive back the fire, and if 
possible get lines to work on lantern sky¬ 
light. Hook and ladder company 35 to as¬ 
sist by opening up buildings and getting to 
work promptly. Engine company No. 26 
to hydrant “T.” Stretch two 3-inch lines to 
turret on hose wagon and get same to work 
to cover the front of building “C” and pos¬ 
sible exposure of five-story apartments and 
fireproof apartments opposite fire. Hook 
and ladder company No. 2 to get the horses 
and occupants out of surrounding buildings. 
Engine company No. 1 to hydrant “L” in 
rear and stretch 3-inch line to cover rear of 
building “C.” Engine company No. 21 to 
hydrant “L” and stretch two 3-inch lines to 
be filled out with 2^-inch hose and 1^-inch 
nozzles, and take first line to building “A,” 
and Hook and ladder company No. 24 take 
second to building “E” and follow up com¬ 
panies already at work in these buildings. 
Engine company No. 56 to hydrant “EE” 
and stretch two 3-inch lines and connect to 
water tower No. 3 to be placed in front of 
building “C” and operated to cover front of 
building and side window exposures on 
other buildings. Engine company No. 44 
to stretch one 3-inch line from hydrant “U”; 
connect to water tower No. 3. Engine com¬ 
pany No. 14 to hydrant “M” and cover the 
rear of fire through stable "B.” Engine 
company No. 16 to hydrant “A” and one 3- 
inch line to building “D” to cover rear of 
fire and this building. 

(e) The shortest stretch would be engine 
company 23: 200 feet of hose. The longest 
stretch would be engine company No. 16: 
600 feet of 3-inch hose. Three-inch hose 
would be stretched on all lines on the out¬ 
side, and filled out with 2 k 2 -inch hose where 
entering buildings. Nozzles one-half the 
size of the hose would be used on all lines, 


160 





Sketch relating to Question « in Administration, examination for Battalion Chief, August '26, 1!)14. 
























































































































































































































































































































** * * “i • .* - 


























































• * — • • 























. * . 



























































' 





















except the long stretches of 3-inch hose, 
where l^-inch nozzles would be used. 

(f) The pressures on engines nearest to 
fire would run at about 150 pounds and 
those furthest away at 220 pounds. 

Ques. 6:—What features in each of the 
classes of occupancy given below are of im¬ 
portance and require special consideration 
as relates to (1) the control of fires in build¬ 
ings having such occupancy; (2) keeping the 
loss resulting from fire down to a minimum: 

(a) Art galleries. 

(b) Breweries. 

(c) Lime storage. 

(d) Electric light and power station. 

ANS.:—(a) The nature of the construction 
of an art gallery serves to spread a fire rap¬ 
idly: Large skylights, large windows and 
the combustible nature of the paintings, dra¬ 
peries and the packing materials in which 
these articles are shipped to and from the 
galleries. These buildings should be 
equipped with automatic sprinklers. The 
gallery should be constructed of fireproof 
material, as the contents in many cases can¬ 
not be duplicated. There should be an equip¬ 
ment of gas extinguishers, and the observ¬ 
ance of the greatest care by company offi¬ 
cers when a fire does occur in one of these 
buildings to prevent the men from throw¬ 
ing articles around carelessly when over¬ 
hauling, thus causing great loss.. 

(b) Breweries should be constructed fire¬ 
proof throughout, and the portions in which 
the more hazardous work is carried on, such 
as boiler rooms, keg pitching, fixture re¬ 
pairing and hop drying, separated from the 
main building and preferably be in separate 
buildings. They should be equipped with 
automatic sprinklers, have fire doors at all 
connections between buildings, elevators 
and stairways enclosed, and chutes con¬ 
structed of fireproof material with auto¬ 
matic dampers at all connections between 
buildings to prevent the spread of fire. If 
the stable is on the premises, this would 
add to the hazard. 

(c) The buildings where lime is stored 
should be constructed fire and waterproof, 
with the floors elevated above grade to 
prevent water or rain flooding in from any 
cause and setting lime afire. This precau¬ 
tion would also allow the water in case of 
fire to run off and prevent needless dam¬ 
age to lime stored on lower tiers. Where 
the buildings are not constructed in this 
manner, the barrels should be tiered on 
skids clear of the floor. 

Water should not be used on a lime fire 
unless the building is badly involved. Where 
the fire is small, get the barrels out of the 
building, and cover lime from broken bar¬ 
rels with sand or dirt, and be careful that 
men do not get burned or blinded from 
same. A stream of water played on a large 
quantity of lime on fire should be used at 
a distance, as the blowback will be wicked 
and dangerous. 

(d) This class of buildings should be, and 
usually is, constructed fireproof through¬ 
out. and the greatest care should be taken 
in handling fires in this class of building. 


Provision should be made to run off water 
from floors to prevent the ruin of dynamos 
and motors. The point where conductors 
enter or leave the building should be guard¬ 
ed by lightning arrester and circuit-breakers, 
enclosed so as not to cause fire from the 
arc in case of a blowout. The switch and 
panel boards should be fireproof, and lubri¬ 
cating oil and cleaning waste should be 
properly stored in fireproof room, and waste 
cans provided for old waste. Don’t use 
water on fires in dynamos, motors or switch¬ 
board panels. Gas extinguishers that will 
kill any arc are now part of the equipment 
of every up-to-date power house, and should 
be used for this purpose. If necessary to 
play a stream of water at a fire of this char¬ 
acter, keep the men at least 25 feet away 
from the charged wires, so that the stream 
will not carry the current back and give 
them a shock. Tests made at Cornell show 
that at 25 feet there is no danger from shock 
by striking charged wires with the stream. 

Water causes heavy damage to electrical 
apparatus, and should only be used in ex¬ 
treme cases. 

Ques. 7:—A fire is in progress in a 4-story 
brick building where chemicals are manu¬ 
factured. The windows in the building are 
fitted with iron shutters throughout, and 
it operates under permits of the Bureau of 
Fire Prevention. You are aware that there 
are several electrically-driven stirring and 
evaporating centrifugals on the two upper 
floors and that the lighting installation com¬ 
prises both gas and electricity. You are 
aware that the cellar contains carboys of 
sulphuric and nitric acid, and stored bro¬ 
mine in steel cylinders. And you are in¬ 
formed that several screw-cap flagons of 
bromine and syphon flasks of sulphur 
di-oxide are probably ready for daily 
use on the second or third floor. The build¬ 
ing is in the high pressure district, and in 
a thickly populated neighborhood where 
many of the surrounding tenements are of 
five and six stories. 

(a) State fully what preliminary precau¬ 
tions you would take. 

(b) At what part of the building you 
would effect entrance. 

(c) Outline your general plan of attack 
and give reasons for what you would do. 

ANS.:—I judge from the question that 
the building is unoccupied at the time of this 
fire and that the materials specified are in 
readiness for going to work the next day. 
Under this presumption, the iron shutters 
would be closed, and the building also. It 
is a hard matter to tell the result of a fire 
where different kinds of chemicals are stored 
or used when they begin to react upon one 
another when exposed to the heat of the fire 
and the water used. 

Bromine will put out a fire, as will sul¬ 
phur di-oxide, and the latter would be ex¬ 
tremely dangerous to life. It is used in 
fumigating ships, and kills all animal life, 
and with like results to human beings. The 
acids sulphuric and nitric give off fumes 
that a man may work in for a time, but 
they destroy the tissue of the throat and 

161 


lungs, and many Firemen have lost their 
lives where only a small quantity of same 
were stored. In this fire, being stored in 
the cellar, they would be especially danger¬ 
ous, as the hot water from the fire would 
undoubtedly break the carboys; and the 
acids, unless in small quantities and well 
diluted with the water, would set fire to any 
organic matter in the cellar and start burn¬ 
ing at this point. The place being operated 
under permit from the Bureau of Fire Pre¬ 
vention, the flagons and flasks. should be 
equipped with safety plugs which will re¬ 
lease at certain pressures and temperature, 
and would prevent the explosion of these 
vessels. 

(a) On account of the character of the 
contents of the building and the surrounding 
tenements, I would on arrival immediately 
transmit a third alarm. Have Police and 
truck men get the tenants out of the sur¬ 
rounding buildings, and form fire lines to 
keep the people at a safe distance in case 
of an explosion. Send out ambulance calls, 
to have same on hand in case of accident. 
Notify Central Office of the nature and ex¬ 
tent of the fire, and to have Department 
Surgeons on the ground to care for Firemen 
overcome or injured. 

(b) Have first truck company open up 
door at entrance, and try and get to elec¬ 
tric shutoff and shut off the power. Like¬ 
wise shut off the gas, if there was a shutoff 
in the street as required by the Code. Get 
the next truck company to the roof and 
have same opened up to give smoke, fumes 
and gases a chance to escape when the 
streams are put to work on the lower part 
of building. Use turret pipes on wagons to 
open up iron shutters on front of building, 
if same cannot be safely reached by ladders. 

(c) I would surround the building with 
lines and from the roofs adjoining and win¬ 
dows across the street, to drive back the fire, 
using turret pipes on wagon and water tower 
in front, and Siamesed lines stretched from 
the rear through adjoining or rear building, 
to keep fire from getting out in the rear. I 
would not permit men to enter the building 
until certain that the danger from poison¬ 
ous fumes is removed, and keep a close 
watch that men do not approach building 
too close until danger of an explosion is 
past. Lines would also be operated from 
the roofs on both sides of the building on 
fire. 

Ques. 8:—A block 800x200 is bounded on 
the north by 2nd Street; on the south by 
1st Street; on the west by Avenue A, and 
on the east by Avenue B. Avenue A is 1,000 
feet from the bulkhead line, and 1st Street 
is 800 feet from a navigable creek. It is in 
a factory district. The block is traversed by 
a siding from the railroad yards between the 
creek and 1st Street. 

A fire breaks out in a seven-story drug 
warehouse on Avenue A and is noticed at 7 
A. M. by dense smoke coming out of the 
windows; soon the holes in the shutters 
show flames. The wind threatens from the 
west to spread the fire to a paper house and, 
across the street, a varnish factory. The 


latter has automatic sprinklers. To the 
east of the drug building are a bag factory 
and rug factory. Further east are also vari¬ 
ous low buildings with more or less inflam¬ 
mable material. Six-inch mains on Avenue 
B and 2nd Street; elsewhere 12-inch mains. 
As Battalion Chief, you arrive on second 
alarm, finding the kettle room of the varnish 
factory has also caught fire. State, in order 
of procedure, what action you take, what 
orders are given and how you distribute 
your companies. 

ANS.:—I assume I am in charge of this 
fire, and on reaching same I would immedi¬ 
ately transmit a fourth alarm on account of 
'the height and character of contents of the 
building involved and the serious exposures 
on the leeward side of same. The attached 
diagram will give an idea of the lay-out of 
the buildings involved, as I see them. 

The fourth alarm should bring me at 
least 12 engine companies, 4 truck compa¬ 
nies and four Chief Officers, and being ad¬ 
jacent to waterfront on two sides I would 
expect to find 3 fireboats. If they were not 
assigned I would send special calls for 
same. 

On my arrival, finding the fire in the ket¬ 
tle room of varnish factory, I would have 
entrance to kettle room covered with lines 
and keep the varnish from flowing out 
through the rest of the plant. The amount 
of varnish in the kettle room is confined 
to the kettles, which is not a relatively 
large amount, and by holding same back 
with the streams it would burn out with 
plenty of vent through the chimneys over 
the kettle room; and, in addition, these ket¬ 
tle rooms are almost without exception con¬ 
structed absolutely fireproof. In some 
plants provision is made to have a pit dug 
at the entrance to the kettle room and ex¬ 
tending across this entrance, covered with 
a grating or wood platform, and with suffi¬ 
cient capacity to hold the contents of all 
the kettles in the room. In other cases this 
pit is connected to carry the contents on 
fire away from the building. 

A building of the size specified for the 
drug house should have at least two stair¬ 
ways, and the first companies should be sent 
up the stairways; but this would be largely 
governed by the amount of fire in the build¬ 
ing. The water tower and turret wagons 
should be placed around the building to 
cover same with heavy streams to open up 
the shutters and get the water into the build¬ 
ing. I would place the companies on ar¬ 
rival on the largest available mains closest 
to the fire, and the majority, about eight 
companies, on the leeward side to protect 
the rug and bag factory and paper house. 
I would have the fireboats stretch from the 
nearest available waterfront into the Siam¬ 
ese connection of the varnish factory, and, 
if necessary, break the heads to get water in 
this building and prevent same taking fire. 
The boats would also be used to supply the 
water tower and turret wagons, and hook 
and ladder and boat crews would be utilized 
to get these lines stretched and companies 
to work without delay. As stated, the com¬ 
panies to enter the building would be largely 


162 



Bv/Ar/rcsaf 



163 


Sketch illustrating answer to Question 8 in Administration in examination for Battalion Chief, August 25, 1914. 



































governed by the extent of the fire; and, if 
possible to enter, use would be made of 
the stairways, fire escapes, if any, and ex¬ 
tension ladders to reach the floors on fire. 
This would be the regular procedure closing 
in on the fire as soon as same is under con¬ 
trol. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

BATTALION CHIEF. 

Fire Department. 

Date: December 9, 1909. 
ADMINISTRATION. 

Weight 4. 

1. Second alarm is pulled for a fire in the 
buildings on accompanying^ sketches A and 
B. First alarm engines 'are located as 
shown. Water pressure in the mains^is 30 
pounds before the fire. Indicate in A 
where you would locate four engines re¬ 
sponding to second alarm. In B, three en¬ 
gines. Explain your reasons in each case. 

2. Describe the various kinds of steam 
fire engines and hook and ladder trucks and 
hose wagons in the Department, and state 
what equipment is carried on each kind of 
apparatus. (Answer for either Manhattan 
or Brooklyn, but not for both.) 

3. In case of a fire, what action should 
be taken: (a) Before opening up or ventilat¬ 
ing a building; (b) When connecting up to 
a standpipe; (c) When elevated structure 
or trolley wires are in front of build¬ 
ing; (d) At a fire in a cellar stocked with 
cartridges. 

4. A 3-story building, occupied as a 
schoolhouse, takes fire in any outlying sec¬ 
tion. The first alarm brings two engine 
companies, one ladder company and one 
Battalion Chief (yourself); flames are in the 
third floor and through the roof on the ar¬ 
rival of the Department; the nearest hy¬ 
drants are 400 and 800 feet from the build¬ 
ing, and each hydrant will supply enough 
water for one engine of 600 gallons capac¬ 
ity. One hose wagon carries 1,000 feet of 
2^-inch hose and the other 500 feet of 2Fi- 
inch hose, and 500 feet of 3-inch hose. How 
would you handle such a fire without addi¬ 
tional apparatus, and how would you lay 
your hose to the best advantage to obtain 
four effective fire streams? What size noz¬ 
zles would you use and what pressure 
would be maintained at each engine? 

5. (a) What is the boundary of the high- 
pressure system in either the Borough of 
Manhattan or Brooklyn? Give the loca¬ 
tion of the high-pressure pumping stations, 
the number and capacity of pumps in each, 
number and size of outlets on hydrants and 
how hydrants are operated. 

(b) In case of a breakdown of the high- 
pressure pumps, could you use the fire- 
boats, and, if so, how would you make con¬ 
nections to the high-pressure system? If 
boats could be used, how many boats would 


it take to give capacity equal to one high 
pressure fire station, and what is the pump¬ 
ing capacity of each boat? (Answer for 
either Manhattan or Brooklyn, but not for 
both.) 

6. What are the principal difficulties to 
contend with in fires in large apartment 
houses, and how would you overcome 
them? 

7. Describe the relative precautions nec¬ 
essary to be taken in fighting a fire in: (1) 
A joist constructed building; (2) A mill 
constructed building; (3) A fireproof build¬ 
ing. State your reasons. 


RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight 2. 

Candidates will answer any five of the 
following questions. Do not answer more 
than five. If more than five be answered, 
the first five only will be rated. 

1. Give the substance of the rules and 
the orders of the Department with reference 
to the response of steamers to alarms of 
fire in the high-pressure zone. 

2. At two fires at which you were present 
you noted the following conditions: 

(a) In a small grocery store you find that 
the dealer has on hand twenty-five match- 
men’s gross of matches without any permit 
from the Fire Department, the matches be¬ 
ing stored underneath the counters of the 
store. 

(b) In a retail drug store there are about 
10,000 matches stored in a readily accessible 
open space in the store, the matches being 
packed in five boxes, each containing 2,000 
matches. 

State whether there is a violation of the 
regulations of the Fire Department in either 
of the above cases. If so, state explicitly 
what the violation is. 

3. Explain fully the duties of a Battalion 
chief in command at a fire: 

(1) Where property is damaged or life 
lost. 

(2) Where a fireman performs an act 
which involves exceptional daring. 

(3) As to spare apparatus and watch 
lines. 

4. Firemen complain that the Fire Patrol 
are interfering with their work of extin¬ 
guishing a fire by getting in their way and 
otherwise hindering them in their actions. 

Explain what are the rights, duties and 
privileges of the Fire Patrol, and their rela¬ 
tion to the Fire Department. 

5. (a) While proceeding to a fire the 
Driver of an engine company runs over and 
seriously injures a boy. State in detail the 
action you would take and the nature of 
the investigation you would make in con¬ 
nection with the accident. 

(b) The Driver of a fire engine on the 
way to a fire runs into a pillar of an ele¬ 
vated railroad structure, injuring himself and 
several Firemen, and badly damaging the 
engine. Give all the steps you should take 
in such a case as the officer in charge at the 
time of the accident. 



6. What are the regulations as to the use 
of hose under different degrees of pressure? 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 
Weight 2. 


4. What is the law regulating the storage 
of hay and other similar substances? 

5. What circumstances justify the destruc¬ 
tion by the Fire Department of a building 
not on fire? Who may order such an act? 
What redress, if any, has the owner? 


Candidates will answer any five of the 
following questions. Do not answer more 
than five. If more than five be answered, 
the first five only will be rated. 

1. At a large working fire the driver of a 
United States mail wagon going to Hobo¬ 
ken persists in driving his heavily laden 
truck over your hose lines. You have rea¬ 
son to fear that his action will cause the 
fire to become a dangerous conflagration. 
What action would you take against the 
driver? 

2. You find that a manufacturer of collars 
in your battalion district manufactures cel¬ 
luloid collars as well as linen collars, (a) 
What action would you take? (b) What 
are the requirements of the city ordinances 
and municipal regulations regarding the use 
of celluloid for manufacturing purposes in 
this city? 

3. What requirements of the law enforci- 
ble by the Fire Department must be com¬ 
plied with before you can certify to the Po¬ 
lice Department that a theater or concert 
hall has complied with the law? 

4. What precautionary measures would 
you insist that the proprietor of a hotel 
should take in reference to: (a) The detec¬ 
tion of fires; (b) The extinguishment of 
fires; (c) The apparatus and appliances to 
be used in case of fire; (d) The instructions 
to patrons what to do in case of fire? 

5. In a double tenement building, one of 
the stores and basements is occupied by a 
druggist, who uses the basement for the 
storage of drugs, while the other store and 
basement is used as a bakery. State, the 
provisions of law with which the proprietor 
of each must comply. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

BATTALION CHIEF. 

Fire Department. 

Date: Many years ago. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. What are the provisions of law relative 
to (a) protection of the poles and boxes of 
the fire alarm telegraph system; (b) cross¬ 
ing of fire hose in use; (c) interference with 
Firemen at a fire? 

2. Under the law, what constitutes a 
tenement house and what a lodging house; 
and what are the requirements as to tire 
escapes for each? 

3. Enumerate five distinct violations of 
the law safeguarding theaters against fire, 
and state how such violations would come 
under the immediate notice of a Battalion 
Chief. 


RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. State the difference between the duties 
of Company Commanders and those of 
Chiefs of Battalions. 

2. What is the reason, as you understand 
it, for applying military titles to Chiefs, 
Foremen, etc. 

3. Suppose a member of the Department 
has a judgment entered against him for ar¬ 
ticles supplied to his wife which he did not 
order, and that he is unable to pay the judg¬ 
ment. Does this constitute a violation of 
the rule? Give reasons for your answer. 

4. Who, in your opinion, was responsible 
for the recent runaway of a fire engine re¬ 
sulting in the loss of a horse? 

5. Give one rule binding all members of 
the Department alike, and state, in your 
own language, the reason for the rule. 

REPORT. 

Handwriting will be rated on the answers 
to this sheet. 

Take any considerable fire of recent oc¬ 
currence at which you have been in com¬ 
mand and write a full report, addressed to 
your proper superior, of all the incidents 
connected with it, the work of your com¬ 
pany, your own action, etc. 

LOCALITIES. 

1. Give the number and location of the 
engine houses, hook and ladder houses, fuel 
depots, and all other buildings owned by 
the Department in the battalion district to 
which you are detailed. 

2. Name five buildings in your battalion 
district which you regard as of special in¬ 
terest to the Fire Department and state 
your reasons fully. 

3. Give the most expeditious routes from 
your station to the five buildings named 
in answer to Question 2. 

4. Give the name and location of a theater 
and a large hotel in your borough. If there 
should be a fire in each of these places, 
what companies would answer to the first, 
second and third calls? How soon after 
the second and third calls might reinforce¬ 
ments be expected? 

5. In what districts in your borough 
would there be danger of great loss of life 
at a large fire? Of property? 

CITY GOVERNMENT. 

1. What is meant by “Administrative De¬ 
partment” in the Charter? Name three and 
state generally the matters over which each 
has jurisdiction. 

2. What provision is made for the corps 


165 


of sappers and miners in the Department? 
Is this corps in active existence? If not, 
state why, in your opinion, it has not been 
organized and whether it would be wise or 
not to organize it. 

3. What are the respective duties and 
mutual obligations of the Police and Fire 
Departments at a fire? 

4. Give some reasons for an increase in 
the Fireboat branch of the Department. 

5. There has been talk of securing legis¬ 
lation depriving members of the Police and 
Fire Departments of the right of recourse 
to the courts in case of dismissal. Discuss 
the probable effects of such legislation on 
the discipline of the Department. 


New Jersey Civil Service Com’n. 

BATTALION CHIEF. 

Newark Fire Department. 

Subjects of examination and relative 
weights: Experience, record for efficiency 
and personal fitness, 4; Written report, 1; 
Questions on the duties of the position, 5. 

EXPERIENCE. 

This will cover a general examination on 
the past experience and education of the 
applicant. 


WRITTEN REPORT. 

Take any considerable fire of recent oc¬ 
currence at which you have been in com¬ 
mand of a company and write a full r'eport, 
addressed to your proper superior, of all the 
incidents connected with it, the work of 
your company, your own actions, etc. 

N. B.:—In rating this report, considera¬ 
tion will be given to the form, clearness, 
completeness and the intelligent grasp of 
the subject as displayed in candidate’s re¬ 
port. Use enough words to express clearly 
what you have to say and no more. 

Sign with your examination number. Do 
not use your name. 

DUTIES. 

A—Rules and Regulations. 

1. What are the duties of a Battalion 
Chief at a fire? 

2. How often must a Battalion Chief visit 
companies in his district? State just how 
you would proceed to carry out all the du¬ 
ties required of a Battalion Chief on such 
a visit. 

3. What are the different sizes of hose 
used in the Department, and for what pur¬ 
pose and under what circumstances is each 
size used? 

4. What inspections of buildings should a 
Battalion Chief make and what records 
should he keep of the same? For what pur¬ 
poses? 

5. Name five rules binding on every mem¬ 
ber of the Department alike. 


6. Describe fully the duties and responsi¬ 
bilities of a Company Commander as to the 
fire hydrants in his district. 

7. At a large fire in a box factory you, as 
Battalion Chief, are in command, the fire 
in the first and second stories is beyond 
your control, and the whole interior is a 
mass of flames. You order three Firemen 
to place a ladder against the burning build¬ 
ing and attempt to rescue a workman lying 
overcome by the smoke and heat in a third- 
story window. They refuse to ascend the 
ladder, saying that the risk is too great. 
You call for volunteers and two men make 
the attempt, but they fail, in your opinion, 
because of the delay. How would you han¬ 
dle this case? 


B—Laws and Ordinances. 

1. What are the requirements as to means 
of egress in tenement houses? Factory 
buildings? 

2. What constitutes the crime of arson? 

3. What are the provisions of the law 
relative to the storage of explosives, the 
manufacture of firewQrks, etc., in the City 
of Newark? 

4. What does the law require of the In¬ 
spector of Combustibles after a fire? 

5. What are the chief garage regulations 
of the City of Newark? 

6. Under what circumstances may blast¬ 
ing be carried on within the city limits? 

7. What fire appliances must be provided 
in hotels for the protection of guests? 

C—Administration. 

1. Name and explain the various alarms 
that may come in to any fire house in the 
second battalion district and state what 
companies would respond to each alarm. 

2. When there is a big fire calling out all 
of the companies of the city, what precau¬ 
tions are taken to protect the other portions 
of the city? 

3. Describe one type of hook and ladder 
truck, steam fire engine, hose wagon and 
water tower in use in the Fire Department. 
Tell how they are operated. Explain in 
general their construction and state what 
tools, implements and devices are carried 
on each kind of apparatus. 

4. What particular dangers are to be 
guarded against, should a fire occur in (a) 
a dyeing and cleaning establishment; (b) a 
wholesale drug house; (c) a paint factory? 
Give briefly your reasons in each case. 

5. Give the location of the high-pressure 
mains; the size of the supply mains; where 
the supply is obtained; the number and size 
of outlets on each hydrant; how the hydrant 
is operated. 

6. If you were in command at a large fire 
and the operations of your men were seri¬ 
ously retarded by persons not authorized to 
be present, where does the responsibility of 
this state of affairs rest? What would you 
do to put an end to it and what classes of 
persons would you particularly desire to 
exclude? 


166 



7. Assuming that a fire had spread over 
the entire upper floor of an 8-story office 
building, none of the surrounding buildings 
being more than 3 stories in height, how 
would you proceed to attack the fire, how 
many and what size streams would you un¬ 
dertake to use, how many engines would it 
take to supply them? 


Chicago Civil Service Com’n. 
BATTALION CHIEF. 

Fire Department. 

Date: March 21, 1908. 
SPELLING. 

Residence, Structure, Explosion, Precau¬ 
tion, Official, Operation, Extinguish, Com¬ 
bustible, Material, Chemical, Partition, Ele¬ 
vator, Ventilate, Capacity, Corridor, Ob¬ 
struction, Sufficient, Equipment. 

DUTIES. 

1. In charge as a Chief Battalion of a 
large, spreading fire in a frame dwelling 
house district, with a high wind, tell how 
you would check and extinguish the fire 
and protect surrounding property. 

2. What are the principal difficulties to 
contend with in fires in a large apartment 
building, and how would you overcome 
them? 

3. Describe the various kinds of steam 
fire engines and hook and ladder trucks in 
use in the Department and give their pecu¬ 
liarities of construction. 

4. How would you proceed to remove live 
trolley wires obstructing your work on a 
building which was on fire? 

5. Are buildings of trussed roof construc¬ 
tion considered more dangerous than those 
of ordinary construction? Explain. 

6. How would you handle a fire in a cold 
storage building, and what precaution, if 
any, would you take? 

7. How would you conduct a school of in¬ 
struction for Captains and Lieutenants, and 
what are some of the most important sub¬ 
jects you would discuss? 


8. Describe an automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tem. Explain how it operates, what are all 
the sources of water supply, how they are 
connected to the sprinkler system, and what 
are the instructions to Chiefs of Battalion 
and officers commanding companies in re¬ 
gard to buildings so equipped? 

9. What are the duties of Chiefs of Bat¬ 
talion and officers of companies in regard 
to inspection of buildings? 

10. What precautions should be taken be¬ 
fore opening up or ventilating a building? 

ARITHMETIC. 

Add the following: 

64529 

87364 

18738 

5679 

4237 

3764 

2587 

2. Find the total amount of the following 
bill: 

180 bu. of oats at 45c per bu. 

2500 lbs of ground feed at $40 per ton. 

3 2-3 tons of hay at $21 per ton. 

3. A stock of goods valued at $18,750 was 
damaged by fire and water to the extent of 
25% of its value. What was the amount 
of the damage? 

4. An engine throws 850 gallons of wa¬ 
ter per minute. How many gallons can it 
throw in 2 l / 2 hours? 

5. A dealer paid $9,504 for 48 head of 
horses. What was the cost per head? 

CITY INFORMATION AND PEN¬ 
MANSHIP. 

1. Name and locate four of the most com¬ 
plete private fire systems in the city. 

2. Locate five of the largest grain eleva¬ 
tors in the city. 

3. Locate three of the largest cold stor¬ 
age buildings in the city, outside of “pack¬ 
ing town.” 

4. Name five buildings inside the loop 
with Illinois Tunnel shaft connections. 

5. Locate five of the city pumping sta¬ 
tions. 


167 



DEPUTY CHIEF 


Answers to Examination Questions and Specimen Ques¬ 
tions for Deputy Chief, Deputy Chief in Charge of 
Marine Division, Chief of Construction and Re¬ 
pairs, and Asst. Chief Engineer, New York 
City, Newark and San Francisco. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n., N. Y. 

PROMOTION TO DEPUTY CHIEF. 

Fire Department. 

Date: Aug. 27, 1914. 
ADMINISTRATION—Weight 6. 

(To be finished by 1 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—Sketch No. 1 shows a small sec¬ 
tion of Manhattan known as the Dry Goods 
District. The height of all the buildings, the 
widths of the streets and fireproof buildings 
are indicated on the sketch. The type of 
construction, except where fireproof con¬ 
struction is shown, is joisted brick or stone 
with numerous cast iron fronts. In all 
blocks, except those where the buildings run 
through from street to street, there are one 
or more open courts in the center of the 
block. The window openings facing these 
courts are generally protected with thin 
sheet-iron shutters. In a number of blocks 
there are non-standard and thin glass sky¬ 
lights over the one-story projection into 
these courts. 

The building marked “A” on Worth Street 
in the sketch is an old five-story, basement 
and sub-basement, ordinary joisted brick 
structure with stone front on two streets, 
occupied as a wholesale dry goods house; 
area is 31,000 square feet; floors are light 
construction, supported by cast-iron and 
wood columns. The stairs are open on all 
floors, and the elevators are in wood enclo¬ 
sures. This building communicates with the 
other buildings in the block through unpro¬ 


tected, or poorly protected, openings and by 
bridges. There is a light court in the cen¬ 
ter of the block. Each building in the block 
is protected by a wet-pipe system of auto¬ 
matic sprinklers. On account of a failure in 
the heating plant the sprinkler pipes become 
frozen. 

The Chief of the Department is out of 
the city, and you are in charge. It is win¬ 
ter. Snow has fallen to the depth of twelve 
inches. The temperature is five above zero. 
There is a thirty-five mile wind blowing 
from the northeast. You are at a fourth- 
alarm fire at Box 261, where you are using 
15,000 gallons per minute from the high- 
pressure system. 

While you are at this fourth-alarm fire, 
at 6 in the morning, a fire starts in the sub¬ 
basement of building “A” near the wood- 
enclosed elevator shafts. It burns through 
the wood enclosure and goes up the shaft. 
The watchman discovers fire on his round 
on the fourth floor. He runs to Box 84 and 
pulls it. After waiting three minutes the ap¬ 
paratus fails to arrive. He rushes back to 
the building and notifies Headquarters by 
telephone of the fire. The usual still alarm 
response is sent out. 

In the meantime the attendants at Fire 
Alarm Headquarters discover that one of 
the fire alarm cables, exposed to high ten¬ 
sion, light and power cables, has gone out of 
commission and cut practically all of the fire 
alarm boxes in that part of the city out of 
service. 

The Captain of the first of the still-alarm 
companies finds that the fire has already 
spread to all floors, and goes to Box 84 to 
summon additional apparatus. The Captain 


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To be used in connection with Question 1 on Administration, 

Chief, August 27, 1914. 


examination 


for Deputy 


168 































































G> FOADW'AY 




Sketch No. 1, to be used in connection with Question 1 on Administration, examination for Deputy Chief, August 27, 1!)14 































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































discovers immediately that the box is out 
of service, and goes to a telephone. Fire 
Alarm Headquarters notifies him of the ac¬ 
cident to the fire alarm cable and immedi¬ 
ately sends additional apparatus. 

You are notified, and you respond at once. 
On your arrival you find that the whole of 
the Worth Street side of building “A” is 
burning on all floors; the fire has already 
jumped across Church Street and is coming 
out of the buildings facing Thomas Street. 
You take such action as you consider neces¬ 
sary, and after ten minutes receive word 
that two fires have started; one in the center 
of the block bounded by Church, Reade, 
West Broadway and Duane, marked “B,” 
and the other in the center of the block 
bounded by West Broadway, Murray, 
Church and Park Place, marked “C.” 

(a) What would you do immediately on 
your arrival at Box 84? 

(b) What would you do when you were 
notified of the two new fires starting in lo¬ 
cations “B” and “C,” and how would you 
handle the entire situation? 

ANS.:—(On reaching the above fire I 
would expect that the first officer to arrive, 
owing to the conditions stated, had trans¬ 
mitted a fifth alarm by telephone for Sta¬ 
tion 84, and would have the following com¬ 
panies due at the fire: 

1st alarm—Engine Companies 7, 31, 12; 
H. and L. Company 1; Water Tower 1. 

2nd alarm—Engine Companies 30, 13, 6; 
H. and L. Company 10. 

3rd alarm—Engine Companies 32, 4, 33; 
H. and L. Company 20. 

4th alarm—Engine Companies 17, 15, 11; 
H. and L. Company 6. 

5th alarm—Engine Companies 10, 28, 14, 1. 

A total of 17 Engine Companies, 4 H. and 
L. Companies and a Water Tower in the 
high-pressure district, with sufficient hy¬ 
drants in the vicinity to furnish plenty of 
water. There are 10 high-pressure pumps 
in the two stations, which will supply 3,300 
gallons per minute at 300 pounds pump pres¬ 
sure, and with 150 pounds pressure at the 
station will give 4,500 gallons each (con¬ 
servative estimate), or a total of 45,000 gal¬ 
lons per minute, which, with 15,000 gallons 
in use at Station 261, would leave 30,000 
gallons available at 150 pounds pump pres¬ 
sure, and would supply approximately sixty 
500-gallon streams, or thirty 1,000-gallon 
streams—more than enough for this fire. 

The fire, owing to the narrow width of 
Church Street, has spread west against the 
wind and has control of the building on the 
west side of Church Street, between Worth 
and Thomas Streets, and will naturally, if 
permitted, follow with the wind across 
Thomas Street. The question states that 
the fire is coming out of the buildings fac¬ 
ing Thomas Street, which I assume means 
the buildings south of “A,” giving the fire 
control of this block. The wind being from 
the northeast would drive the heat and fire 
on Worth Street to the south, and would, 
owing to the fair width of Worth Street, 
delay the spread of the fire north. 

There being 12 inches of snow on the 
roofs and skylights in the vicinity, it would 
keep the sparks and brands from setting 


fire to the roofs, etc., and the danger from 
this source would be in open or poorly pro¬ 
tected windows, to cover which I would 
have some Policemen and Truckmen go 
through the district south and west of fire, 
with instructions to watchmen and occu¬ 
pants of buildings to keep shutters closed 
and watch out for danger from sparks and 
brands. 

The fire alarm cable giving out, Fire 
Alarm Telegraph Bureau would send out 
the signal 13-13-13, which would notify the 
Department of the breakdown of the Tele¬ 
graph system, and I would designate a Chief 
Officer to call a patrol of men to cover the 
district out of service, and to co-operate 
with the Police Department and keep the 
Department informed of any fire or alarms, 
as provided for in orders of the Department. 

(b) Being notified of fires at “B” and 
“C,” I would send a Company and Chief 
Officer to each fire and await word from him 
as to the extent of the fires, and, if the con¬ 
ditions warranted, I would transmit a Bor¬ 
ough Call for the number of companies nec¬ 
essary for the Borough of Brooklyn, as in 
my opinion I would have this apparatus on 
hand before any called on simultaneous call 
in Manhattan could reach me. 

In case these additional fires were exten¬ 
sive, the fireboats would be called on to sup¬ 
plement the high-pressure system by con¬ 
necting to same. I would be informed of 
this condition by keeping in touch with the 
high-pressure station, and would know when 
all pumps were working and there was an 
indication of a fall in pressure at the sta¬ 
tion. 

For the first fire I would place the Water 
Tower No. 1 at the corner of Worth and 
Thomas Streets to drive fire back on floors 
of five-story building on the west side of 
Church Street, between Worth and Thomas 
Streets, and use deck pipe on Tower to 
cover the front of buildings on Thomas 
Street to leeward of fire; turret wagon to 
be placed at Church and Worth Streets, to 
cover both sides of street and help kill the 
fire, and would be advanced south on Church 
Street as soon as the condition of the fire 
and the iron fronts of buildings would make 
it possible. 

If possible to enter buildings, including 
fireproof structure on the north side of 
Thomas Street, with lines, companies would 
be ordered into each building; and if not, 
they would cover this side from the upper 
floors or fire escapes of buildings across the 
street. 

Three turret wagons would be placed in 
front of building “A” and operated to pro¬ 
tect buildings opposite and extinguish fire 
in “A,” and supplemented with hand lines as 
required, handled by the men. Turret wag¬ 
ons would also be used on the Thomas 
Street side to back up the hand lines in the 
buildings opposite on this side of fire. 

The Elevated Railroad structure on West 
Broadway would be utilized by placing 
companies on the structure to operate lines, 
after the power had been shut off and the 
trains stopped. Two 3-inch lines would be 
stretched to each wagon pipe and three 3- 



inch lines to water tower mast and deck 
pipes. 

Iron front buildings collapse quickly when 
heated by a fire and struck with water, and 
in the placing of the companies to fight the 
fire this point would be carefully considered. 
The use of turret wagon pipes requiring 
only two men to operate same would leave a 
large number of men available for hand lines 
into all surrounding buildings to confine the 
fire. 

The sprinkler system being frozen, I as¬ 
sume, means frozen and useless. It must be 
useless in building “A,” with all floors afire, 
and would result in a waste of water to con¬ 
nect to same. The question indicates that 
the buildings are all one concern, and evi¬ 
dently means that the sprinkler system is 
out of service in all, and fire must be extin¬ 
guished without the aid of sprinkler system. 

Ques. 2:—(a) State the specific features 
essential for an efficient Fireboat: 

(1) As to its hull construction; 

(2) As to its power equipment; 

(3) As to its fire fighting equipment on 
deck. 

(b) State the relative advantages and dis¬ 
advantages of aerial and plain ladder trucks; 
of spring, pneumatic and hydraulic towers. 

(c) What is your opinion of the advisa¬ 
bility of equipping ladder trucks with ladder 
pipes with nozzles permanently attached? 

Why not have 120-foot ladders, as used 
in London, with our present trucks? Or, 
how would you provide suitable trucks for 
them? State both sides of the case. 

Would it be more satisfactory, or advan¬ 
tageous, to make our 75-foot ladders in 
three sections instead of two with the pres¬ 
ent trucks? 

ANS.:—(a-1) Should be 120 feet long, 
over all, with a 24-foot beam and 9-foot 
draught, and should be built of steel. Frames 
spaced 20 inches centre to centre, except 
forward, where for 18 feet on each bow 
they should be 12 inches apart, centre to 
centre. This feature is necessary to 
strengthen the boat to force her way 
through heavy ice and against obstructions. 
The decks should be flush fore and aft, and 
as clear as possible of all obstructions, so 
the boat may be ready for action at all 
times. 

The common practice of providing a large 
pilot house should be avoided. The edges 
of the pilot house should be rounded so that 
hose couplings will not catch on same. A 
skylight and boiler hatch should be provided 
for the ventilation of the engine room. The 
guards and rails should be built of sound, 
well-seasoned oak. The main rail should 
be of white oak and protected with half- 
round galvanized iron. 

(a-2) The boilers should be of the water 
tube type, with large straight tubes; a grate 
surface of 120 square feet; a heating surface 
of 4,500 square feet, with a working pres¬ 
sure of 225 pounds under forced draft; either 
a closed ash pit or an airtight fire room 
should be employed. 

The main engine should comprise two 
units of the compound type, with the high- 


pressure cylinder 11 inches and the low- 
pressure cylinder 24 inches in diameter, and 
a stroke of 18 inches. The auxiliaries should 
include air pumps with vertical twin cyl¬ 
inders, two double-acting 12-inch water cyl¬ 
inders with a 12-inch stroke, and two feed 
pumps with steam cylinders 7^2 inches in 
diameter. Water cylinders 4^4-inch and 
stroke 10 inches. 

The circulating pumps should be of the 
centrifugal type, driven by independent en- 
gines, with a capacity of 2,000 gallons per 
minute. There should be a condenser hav¬ 
ing a cooling surface of 2,800 square feet. 
There should also be a small bilge pump, 
controlled by an independent gate valve, and 
an efficient steam steering engine. She 
should be equipped with centrifugal pumps 
driven by turbine engines, which will do 
the work with half the steam required by 
reciprocating units. The pumps should 
have a capacity of 9,000 gallons, be two- 
stage and so arranged as to be used as one 
four-stage pump. 

(a-3) On the deck above the pumps should 
be mounted two turrets, about three feet 
high, with a 16-inch inlet and nine Zy^-inch 
outlets, provided with brass gate valves. A 
nozzle should be mounted on top of the tur¬ 
ret. An 8-inch line controlled by a gate 
valve should lead forward to the pilot house, 
and a nozzle mounted on same. A 6-inch 
branch should supply the bow nozzle, with 
another 6-inch line aft to supply nozzle on 
elevated tower at stern. This tower should 
extend above deck about 30 feet. The boat 
should carry 50 lengths of 3H-inch hose and 
25 lengths of 2j4-inch hose and all neces¬ 
sary nozzles, cellar pipes, connections and 
other equipment. 

(b) The advantages of the aerial truck 
are: The ladders are 85 feet in length, com¬ 
pared with the plain truck’s 50-foot ladder; 
they can be raised in a few seconds by one 
man, and can be driven to any position de¬ 
sired and raised without delay. The disad¬ 
vantages are: The size is a handicap in the 
narrow streets of the downtown sections, 
and they are cumbersome where the traffic 
conditions are heavy or roads bad. 

The plain old-style trucks have only a 50- 
foot hand extension ladder, which is heavy 
and cumbersome, requiring four men to 
raise it, which is difficult under the condi¬ 
tions existing at fires. They will not be of 
any use above the fifth floor. They are 
more easily handled in the narrow streets, 
and are lighter and better for bad road con¬ 
ditions or where traffic is congested. This 
type of truck is more efficient in the outly¬ 
ing sections where buildings are low. 

The Spring Tower is the most efficient, as 
two men can readily raise the mast in posi¬ 
tion and be ready to start the water as soon 
as the lines are connected. The difficulty 
lies in the fact that it might be impossible 
to raise the mast if anything happened to 
the spring assist. 

The Hydraulic Tower is raised by the wa¬ 
ter pressure and cannot be used until an 
engine or high pressure is connected to same 
and a pressure of 140 pounds developed to 


1T0 


elevate the mast. It must be carefully looked 
after in cold weather to prevent the tanks 
and valve and pipe connections from freez¬ 
ing and bursting. 

The Pneumatic Tower, while efficient 
when operated properly, cannot be kept only 
where the tanks can be charged with air, 
and is apt through accident to be without 
the necessary air pressure to operate same 
when most needed. They are not in use in 
the New York Department. The quarters 
where this type of truck is stationed must 
be equipped with an air pump to keep up 
the pressure in the tanks of the tower. 

(c) I consider this good practice where 
water towers are not readily available, and 
some of the trucks in use in the Department 
are equipped with Deluge Sets to be used 
for this purpose. It would be inadvisable 
to have too many of the H. and L. trucks 
equipped as such in use at the same time, 
for in case they are required in haste at an¬ 
other point, there would ensue a delay in 
shutting off the water and moving the ladder 
to the place required. 

The 120-foot ladder would be of advan¬ 
tage in some cases where fire had cut off 
stairways and fire escapes, in a building over 
seven stories in height, but the Building 
Code requires buildings in excess of 75 feet 
to be built fireproof, and if constructed in 
strict accordance with the Code the stair¬ 
ways would furnish the necessary means of 
reaching upper floors as well as this lad¬ 
der. There is also difficulty in getting a lock 
that will lock a three-section ladder and 
work simultaneously on the three sections. 
The trucks in use could be used for this 
purpose by making a three-section ladder in 
place of two. In the sections of the city 
where streets are narrow, at present smaller 
trucks are used on this account. In my opin¬ 
ion, a two-section ladder is stiffer and 
stronger and lighter than one of three sec¬ 
tions, with less complication of locks and 
gears, and to be quick-raising would require 
a great deal more power in the spring rais¬ 
ing device. 

Ques. 3:—The Fire Commissioner has de¬ 
cided to institute an investigation to deter¬ 
mine whether or not it is possible (1) to 
reduce the fire losses; (2) to reduce the dan¬ 
ger to the lives of the occupants of build¬ 
ings and members of the Fire Department; 
(3) to reduce the probabilities of a confla¬ 
gration in New York City. 

You are called upon to submit a complete 
report showing what improvements should 
be made, and why improvements should be 
made: 

(a) In the equipment and apparatus of 
the Fire Department; 

(b) In the organization and manual 
strength of the Fire Department; 

(c) In other departments of the City Gov¬ 
ernment. , . , 

ANS.:—(1-a) Install the high-pressure 
system as rapidly as possible in the high 
value districts of the city. Furnish all wag¬ 
ons with chemical tanks to extinguish fires 
with least possible water damage. 


(1-b) Have regular monthly inspections 
made of all buildings in the city, except pri¬ 
vate dwellings, and follow up on such in¬ 
spections. Have the Department motorized 
with the least possible delay. Have the paid 
Department extended over the entire city. 

(1-c) Have the Department of Water Sup¬ 
ply, Gas and Electricity respond to all fires 
in high-pressure district, in case of accident 
to the high pressure system. 

(2-a) The motorizing of the Department 
as quickly as possible, to respond more 
quickly to fires. 

(2-b) The organization of a special squad 
to respond to alarms in bad locations and 
elsewhere, when required, on special call, 
equipped with smoke helmets and necessary 
rescue tools and appliances. 

(2-c) The passage of legislation in regard 
to the keeping of combustibles and explo¬ 
sives, so that in the constant supervision 
of these materials the danger of fires and ex¬ 
plosions will be reduced to a minimum. 

(3-a) The extension of the high-pressure 
system throughout the congested and high 
value districts as quickly as possible; the 
motorization of the Department to enable 
quick responses to alarms. 

(3-b) The organization of the Corps of 
Sappers and Miners on a working basis, so 
as to be ready for an emergency, and all 
properly instructed in the use of explosives. 
The strict enforcement by the Superintend¬ 
ent of Buildings and Tenement House Com¬ 
missioner of the laws regarding construc¬ 
tion in this class of buildings, and the pas¬ 
sage of legislation extending the fire limits 
of the city, and the enforcement of laws 
preventing the use of wooden roofs in the 
built-up sections of the city, for repairs or 
otherwise. 

Ques. 4:—(a) So far as automobile appa¬ 
ratus is concerned, what do you consider 
to be the advantages and disadvantages of: 

(1) Motor-propelled steam fire engine 
with individual tractor, used in connection 
with automobile hose wagon having chem¬ 
ical tank; 

(2) Automobile hose wagon drawing a 
steam fire engine by means of a draw bar; 

(3) Automobile pumping engine and hose 
wagon with pump driven by the same engine 
used for driving the car; used in connection 
with automobile hose wagon having chem¬ 
ical tank; 

(4) Automobile pumping engine, hose 
wagon and chemical tank with pump driven 
by the same engine used for driving the car? 

(b) What are the advantages and disad¬ 
vantages of the following types of pumps, 
considering each to be driven by the motor 
of a gasoline engine: 

(1) Reciprocating piston pumps; 

(2) Rotary pumps; 

(3) Centrifugal pumps? 

ANS.:—(a-1) This is the most effective 
combination in the portions of the city 
where fires are prevalent. While it costs 
more and takes more men for its operation, 
the fact that the good engines in service 
can be furnished with a tractor at compara¬ 
tively small expense and retained in service 


for a long time is much in its favor. In 
addition, the thawing of hydrants where 
frozen in winter is no difficulty with the 
steamer. Of course, there is no reduction 
in the expense of keeping steam on these 
boilers at all times, which is some disadvan¬ 
tage on that score. 

(a-2) In my opinion, entirely too cumber¬ 
some for use in the city where traffic condi¬ 
tions in some sections are intolerable. It 
has all the disadvantages stated above, and 
the only excuse for its use is the saving 
in first cost of furnishing a tractor for the 
engine. 

(a-3) At the present time, with the highly 
developed centrifugal pump of small size 
and weight and large capacity, a good com¬ 
bination. No expense while standing in the 
house, but provisions for thawing out hy¬ 
drants, taking suction at the river, where 
this type must be primed with a special 
priming pump, are disadvantages for its use 
in this city. 

(a-4) The triple combination is the least 
expensive as to first cost, compared with 
the other apparatus described, requires less 
men in a company, and is very good for the 
outlying sections of the city. If it breaks 
down you are done, which is not the case in 
the other types of apparatus of two pieces. 
There is also the necessity of stopping the 
use of the chemical tank in case it is neces¬ 
sary to use the line of hose, and the addi¬ 
tional delay after stretching the hose while 
the engine goes back to the hydrant to con¬ 
nect up. 

(b-1) The reciprocating pumps as used on 
all old steamers have stood the test for 
years, and in most types all the wearing 
parts are arranged so as to be replaced when 
necessary. They are apt to be severely in¬ 
jured by the use of muddy or dirty water. 
As used with a gasoline engine, the stroke 
of the pump will have to be shortened and 
the power from. the engine transmitted 
through gears, which will cause considerable 
loss of power. The speed of this pump is 
arbitrarily restricted and is not the best type 
for use with a gasoline engine. 

(b-2) While rotary pumps of the old types 
are noisy, wear out rapidly and are costly 
to repair, the fact that they can be used with 
a gasoline motor without the necessity of 
change of motion, as in the reciprocating 
pump, is an advantage. They have not a 
high efficiency to begin with, and this grows 
constantly less with wear. They do not 
require an air chamber and can be run at a 
high rate of speed without injury, having 
no packing or valves to get worn out. 

(b-3) This is the logical pump for the 
gasoline motor-drive. It, is a high speed 
pump, with very few wearing parts, and can 
pump sandy water without injury. They 
are small, compact and powerful, and this 
combination has the least vibration of any 
at high speeds. The best so far has the 
pump geared to about twice the speed of 
the motor and gives large delivery at high 
pressure. The only disadvantage is that 
this pump must be primed by a small prim¬ 
ing pump carried for this purpose when it is 
necessary to take suction. 


(To be finished at 5 P. M.) 

Ques. 5:—In sketch No. 3, building “A” 
is a seven-story and basement, joisted brick 
building of about 12,000 square feet floor 
area; floors are one inch thick, except first 
floor 3 inches thick; walls are light on the 
three upper floors; elevators and stairs in 
8-inch brick enclosure, with non-standard 
panel doors; there is also a large frame- 
enclosed runway extending from the base¬ 
ment to the first floor. The occupancy is 
as follows: Basement—Stable, with 75 
horses; storage of four tons of hay. 1st 
floor—Livery and boarding stable and junk 
shop. 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th floors 
—Clothing manufacturing, with several ten¬ 
ants on a floor. 

Building “B,” adjoining building “A,” is a 
five-story and part basement, joisted brick 
building, area 3,000 square feet. Floors 
double thickness, supported by cast-iron 
columns. Floor openings, all floors includ¬ 
ing runway for horses, unprotected or 
poorly protected. Windows in the west wall 
of this building protected by poor shutters 
across a court 6 feet wide from unprotected 
windows in building “A.” Occupied as a 
boarding and exchange stable, with 50 
horses on second and 90 horses each on 
third and fourth floors; fifth floor used for 
feed, including 12 tons of hay. 

Building “C” is diagonally across the 
street from building “B.” It is a six-story 
and basement fireproof hospital, with unpro¬ 
tected window openings on Jefferson and 
Cherry Streets.. The nature of the construc¬ 
tion and occupancy of the other buildings in 
the immediate vicinity are as shown in the 
sketch. 

You are at a fourth-alarm fire at Box 277. 
A 15-mile wind is blowing from the south¬ 
east. While you are at this fourth-alarm 
fire, at 3.30 in the morning, a fire breaks out 
on the first floor in the rags in the junk shop 
in building “A.” The fire has gained consid¬ 
erable headway on the first floor, when it is 
discovered by a citizen, who rushes to Box 
138 and pulls it. The Captain of one of the 
first-alarm companies sees at a glance that 
the fire has gained large proportions and 
sends in a second alarm. You are notified, 
and you respond; on your arrival at the fire 
you find that all floors of building “A” from 
the first to the sixth are burning very brisk¬ 
ly, and that the fire has already entered the 
fifth floor of building “B.” 

State what you would do, and the order in 
which you would do it. 

t AN ?V~ J 9 n reachi ng fire at Station 138, 
I would order the transmission of a fourth 
alarm, which would provide, all told, the 
following companies to fight the fire: 

1st alarm—Engine Company 5; H. and L. 
Company 1 by C. O; boat by C. O. 

2nd alarm—Engine Companies 12, 7, 31; 
H. and L. Company by C. O.; Water Tower 
No. 1. 

3rd alarm—Engine Companies 32, 41, 4, 
20; H. and L. Company by C. O. 

alarm —Engine Companies 27, 6, 33, 
* a k' Company by Central Office. 

A total of 12 Engine Companies, 4 H. and 
L. Companies, 1 Fireboat and the Water 
Tower No. 1. 






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BOX 138 

CHERRY 

AND 

JEFFERSON 

STREETS 

BOX 277 

LEWIS 

AND 

FOURTH 

STREETS 

/ 


Sketch No. 3, to be used in connection with Question 5 on Administration, examination for Deputy Chief, August 27, 1914. 












































































































































































































































I would expect that provision had been 
made before my arrival by the Police on 
duty at the fire and Firemen that could be 
spared to remove the horses from the sta¬ 
bles and order the tenants out of the tene¬ 
ments directly opposite fire and in the path 
of the wind. Then order' men to the fire¬ 
proof hospital to have the windows closed 
and guarded to prevent fire brands or sparks 
entering the hospital building or through 
roof openings, and to quiet the occupants 
of wards. 

High-pressure lines only would be used, 
and the first lines would be taken to the 
turret wagon, or the tower if it had arrived, 
and placed in position on Cherry Street to 
cover the fifth floor of “B” and the upper 
floors of “A” with the tower nozzle and the 
lower floors of “A” with the deck pipes. 

The next line would be stretched to the 
lower floors of “B” and keep fire from cross¬ 
ing shaft on lower floors, or two lines, if 
necessary, could be used at this point. 

The next line to the storage house on the 
east of “A,” and one or two lines, as re¬ 
quired, to cover this shaft and prevent fire 
crossing same. 

The rear being the leeward side of fire, I 
consider the least exposed, and would order 
the next company to place turret wagon in 
position on Water Street, or two wagons, if 
necessary, to cover this point. 

A company would be assigned to cover 
the buildings on the west side of Jefferson 
Street and the sash and blind places to the 
rear of same to prevent sparks or brands 
spreading fire to same. 

The hospital would be covered with 
streams, in case the fire extended outside 
the windows of “A” and “B,” to prevent the 
breaking of the glass in the windows. Lines 
would be run up the fire escape on “B” 
to the top floor, and on “A” as soon as the 
fire was driven back. The building “A” is 
described as of light construction and a 
quick burner, and after tower and turret 
pipes are at work hand lines should be oper¬ 
ated from front and rear from the roofs of 
the dwelling houses to fight the fire on the 
upper floors. 

Ques. 6:—It is desired to use across a 60- 
foot street a 154 -i nc h stream and a l|4-j nc h 
stream from a building having a six-inch 
standpipe located so that it will require 100- 
foot hose lines to reach each window. One 
stream is to be located on the eighth floor 
and the other stream is to be located on the 
tenth floor. The streams are to be supplied 
from steam fire engines. Assume that any 
of the hydrants you might use are 150 feet 
from the standpipe and each with a supply 
of 700 gallons per minute at 12 pounds: 

(a) What equipment would you require? 

(b) On which floor would you locate the 
lj+inch nozzle, and on which would you 
locate the 1^4-inch nozzle? 

(c) What pressure would you carry at 
each nozzle, and how much water would 
each nozzle discharge? 

(d) Determine the pressure required at 

the engine. , 

ANS.:—(a) I would need two Siamese 
connections, two 3-inch to one 3-inch, for 


use on eighth and tenth floors in Siamesing 
two 3-inch lines from standpipe outlets on 
ninth and tenth floors for use on the tenth 
floor; and for the same purpose in Siames¬ 
ing two 3-inch lines from seventh and eighth 
floors for use on eighth floor. Four in¬ 
creases, 2j4-inch to 3-inch, for standpipe 
cutlets. Six lengths of 3-inch hose; V>/\ and 
1 ^ 2 -inch smooth bore open nozzles and pipe 
holders for same. 

Two Siamese connections, two 3-inch to 
one 3-inch, to connect four 3-inch lines to 
standpipe Siamese, by using these two Si¬ 
amese connections made up to Siamese con¬ 
nections on the building, allowing two 3- 
inch lines of 200 feet each to be stretched 
from each of two 2nd size engines; and 
one increaser, 2j4-inch to 3-inch, with dou¬ 
ble female 3-inch connection, to connect a 
line of 3-inch hose from third steamer to 
first floor outlet in hall on standpipe with 
200 feet of 3-inch hose. 

(b) I would use the lk 2 -inch nozzle on 
tenth floor, because it would not be neces¬ 
sary to maintain so high an engine pressure 
to develop 80 pounds in lj+inch nozzle 
when used on the eighth floor as if used on 
the tenth, and still give 84 pounds on 1J4- 
inch nozzle on tenth floor. 

The third engine connected to standpipe 
outlet in hall would have to maintain the 
same pressure. 

With 123 pounds on standpipe at the 
eighth floor, the pressure at the tenth floor 
would be 123, minus loss due to 20 feet ele¬ 
vation. or 20 X -434 = 8.680, approximately 
9 pounds loss from 123 = 114 pounds at 
outlet tenth floor. 

With 114 pounds at outlet the nozzle pres¬ 
sure on lX-inch nozzle and discharge would 
be as follows: 


.192 

.051 

1 

1 

.192 

.051 

.051 


.1 



1.343)114.000(84+ lbs. pressure on V/ 2 -inch 
10744x nozzle. 


6560 

5372 


Discharge would be found as follows: 

1.5 

1.5 

2.25 sq. of diameter of nozzle 

V8400(9.1 == sq. rt. nozzle pressure 
81 

300 

181 


180 + 1 
1 


180 + 1 


173 





2.25 sq. diam. nozzle 
9.1 sq. root nozzle pressure 


225 

2025 


20.475 

30 barometer pressure 


614.250 gals, discharged at 84 lbs. on l l / 2 - 
inch nozzle 


(c) I would carry 80 pounds on l^-inch 
nozzle, giving discharge as follows: 



3.0625 sq. of diam. of 134-inch nozzle 


V8000(.89 — sq. root nozzle pressure 
64 


1600 

1521 


79 


160 + 9 
9 


1440 + 81 


3.06 

8.9 


2754 

2448 


27.234 

30 barometric pressure 


817.020 gals, per minute from 1^4-inch noz¬ 
zle at 80 lbs. nozzle pressure 


(d) Pressure required at engine to develop 
this 80 pounds on 134-inch nozzle would be 
found approximately as follows: 


.351 

1 


.351 


.093 

1 


.093 

.351 

1.1 


1.544 X 80 = 123.52 pressure required at 

standpipe outlet 8th 
floor 


8th floor — 100 feet height 
.434 



lbs. head loss in standpipe 


= approximately 


Friction loss in feeders 
10 pounds, making total pressure required at 
engines: 


80 

43 

43 

10 

9 


lbs. nozzle pressure 
lbs. loss in hose on floors 
lbs. standpipe head loss 
lbs. loss in feeder lines 
lbs. loss in connections 


185 lbs. engine pressure 


Ques. 7:—Considering the following 

classes of buildings: 

(1) Continuous row of frame buildings; 

(2) Public schools of ordinary joisted 
brick construction; 

(3) High loft buildings of fireproof con¬ 
struction; 

(4) Hotels of ordinary joisted brick con¬ 
struction. 

What features of building construction 
do you consider of prime importance from 
the following standpoint: 

(a) Reducing the spread of fire; 

(b) Making the building safer for the oc¬ 
cupants in time of fire; 

(c) Making the buildings safer to the Fire 
Department when fighting fires in such 
buildings? 

ANS.:—(1-a) Carry the partition walls 
above the roof and have same brick filled as 
required for the lower sections of these 
walls. Provision is only made at the pres¬ 
ent time to carry the brick or fireproof fill¬ 
ing to the under side of the roof boards. 

(1-b) In this class of buildings the cellar 
should be cut off at the stairway entrance 
on the inside of the building with fireproof 
doors, and the use of balloon frame con¬ 
struction prohibited, and the prohibition of 
shingle roofs, unless of fireproof material. 

(1-c) If the above provisions are carried 
out the buildings will be safe for the Fire¬ 
men. It is only in the old frame buildings 
that there are no provisions made for roof 
ventilation, so necessary when fighting fire 
in these buildings. 

(2-a) The segregation of the cellars. Re¬ 
moval of the fancy wooden roofs with their 
attics and towers, which so often result in 
the destruction of this type of building. 
The installation of automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tem. 

(2-b) Fireproofing the halls and stairs. 
Removal of obstructions and clothes closets 
from hallways. Compliance with the rec¬ 
ommendations in (q) on preventing the 
spread of fire. 

(2-c) Complying with the above recom¬ 
mendations of (a) and (b) will make these 
buildings safe from the Fireman’s point. 

(3-a) The proper construction of the fire¬ 
proof partitions between rooms and halls, 
by the elimination of wood in sills, door 
frames, etc. The elimination of wooden 
furniture, desks, etc. The equipment with 
automatic sprinklers and hose lines. 

(3-b) Outside stair towers, fire drills and 
the installation of fire walls for horizontal 
exits. 

(3-c) Prohibit the storage of materials of 
a poisonous, explosive or other extremely 
dangerous kind, except in loft buildings used 
exclusively for this purpose. 


174 













(4-a) Segregate kitchens and cellars from 
the rest of the building. Have all elevator, 
dumbwaiter and light shafts made fireproof 
or fire-retarding. 

(4-b) Have watchmen on duty at night. 
Have signs and diagrams as provided by 
law, and alarm system to notify occupants 
in case of fire. Sufficient fire escapes to 
enable the occupants to escape from the 
building without delay. 

(4-c) If the above provisions are carried 
out the building will be perfectly safe for 
the Firemen. 


Ques. 8:—With the following details in a 
very destructive fire, state how you would 
have fought this fire (if differently from 
that indicated). State what serious defects 
in the construction are responsible for the 
loss. How could this fire have spread so 
rapidly? 

An eight-story building, “B,” built in 1900, 
used for storage, and an adjoining five-story 
building, “A,” were connected by openings 
protected by non-standard swinging tin-clad 
doors, overlapping lp£-inch. and not self¬ 
closing. In the rear of building “A” is a 
large freight elevator, alongside of the party 
wall, encased in an ironclad frame shaft 
built to the top through its roof and ex¬ 
tending outside to the top of building “B” 
and opening to all the floors therein with 
swinging 2-inch non-automatic tin-clad fire¬ 
proof doors, with iron cross-bar latched in 
place by a lift through a ^-inch hole. 

Building “B” is “fireproof,” 85 feet x 90 
feet, steel frame, with brick walls front and 
rear 16 inches, and heavy side walls 20 inches 
to 12 inches. The floor steel beams are 
spaced 8 feet apart, with arches of old-style 
white plaster fireproofing, light wire mesh, 
shavings and sand, and there is a facing on 
floor and ceiling of adamant cement, 1 and y 2 
inch. 

Open stairway in rear of “B” opens freely 
to all floors. Elevator near the front against 
the side wall is enclosed on first floor by 
corrugated metal; on second by plaster 
block partitions; on top floor open grille 
work; on 8rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th, by ada¬ 
mant cement over plaster 2-inch blocks with 
open grille doors. 

Furniture, pianos and all manner of in¬ 
flammable material were packed on all floors 
right up to the party wall, in both buildings. 

All floors were open spaces, except that 
8rd and 4th had each 10 storage sections on 
each side of a central aisle from front to 


lwdl • , . 

Fire was noticed at 12.29 P. M. in the 
wire box of the telephone system, where it 
had come in contact with a high tension 
power wire on the ceiling of the second floor 
of building “A.” It had spread to mattresses 
and bedding on third floor, which could not 
be extinguished by chemicals. Fire Depart¬ 
ment arrived at 12.38, cut connections, rang 
third alarm at 1.36 and a fourth at 1.40 
when it had reached the upper floors of 


building “B.” . 

All doors were closed in the party wall, 
except that to front of building B on the 
second floor, from which a hose stream was 
thrown into “A.” At 1.40 that was shut 


and latched by the Chief, and men with¬ 
drawn to the upper floors of “B.” 

Salvage Corps covered pianos in the room 
till driven out by smoke. Pianos were sub¬ 
sequently destroyed in “B.” Salvage Corps 
forced open the pair of doors on third story 
rear of “B” to outside elevator shaft to let 
the smoke out, but they shut them soon at 
about 2 P. M. 

The greatest volume of smoke and fire 
and the direction of the wind was from front 
to rear. The Battalion Chief fought the fire 
from the rear of building “B” by knocking 
two holes through the rear walls of seventh 
and eighth stories at 1.55. 

After the fire it was found that all mer¬ 
chandise on the upper stories of building 
“B” was totally destroyed; so also that in 
building “A.” But that on third and fourth 
stories in “B” was not damaged by fire. 

The floor beams were intact; their ada¬ 
mant covering crumbled. Brick walls in 
good condition, except where broken about 
the front windows, and on eighth-story rear 
elevator shaft. 

The 3-inch partitions about the elevators 
on second, fifth, sixth and seventh stories 
of “B” were found broken down. 

Steel frame elevator shaft, with corrugated 
sides, in building “A” was a complete 
wreck. 

All pairs of doors to the outside elevator 
shaft were found closed, with their latches 
and cross-bars in place. 

ANS.:—The fire doors at all floors be¬ 
tween “A” and “B” should have been double 
standard fire doors, self-closing, hung one 
pair on each side of wall. The. elevators 
should have been enclosed in .8-inch brick 
walls, as specified in the Building Code for 
buildings of this height and occupancy, as 
well as being equipped with the Peele or 
other approved fire doors equally good. 

If the corrugated iron shaft was permit¬ 
ted to be erected above the roof of “A,” it 
should have been equipped with windows 
at every floor level, of plain glass covered 
on the outside with wire netting, so that 
in case of fire following its natural outlet 
up this shaft would ventilate rapidly to the 
outer air and prevent the accumulation of 
heat and gas in the upper floors of “B,” 
which resulted in the combustible material 
on the upper floors going afire. 

The materials stored should have been 
kept at least, one foot from the walls to 
provide an air space in case of fire in ad¬ 
joining buildings, but, of course, space costs 
money. And why was a risk of this charac¬ 
ter allowed to go unsprinklered? . 

It is the easiest thing in the fire fighting 
game to go over a fire the next day in the 
absence of heat, smoke and excitement, and 
tell the other fellow how he should have 
handled the fire. I notice a lapse of one 
hour between the first and third alarm. 
There must have been time for the officer 
in charge to realize that the fire was getting 
away and help would be required before 
this time had elapsed. 

While the rule is to fight the fire from 
the leeward side, in this case, where there 
was no leeward exposure, it was the tough¬ 
est spot to keep mert at work and could not 


175 


produce as good results as to fight the fire 
from the front, and with the wind driving 
the smoke away from you instead of to you. 

No mention is made as to the ventilation 
of roof of “A.” This was a most important 
point, as the opening of this roof and the 
cutting away of the corrugated iron elevator 
would allow the heavy smoke from the mat¬ 
tresses burning to escape, and allow the men 
to remain on the floors and cover the doors 
connecting both buildings, which in my 
opinion was responsible for the fire getting 
away. This was the most important point 
to be protected, and should be covered at 
all hazards by relays of men, if necessary, 
opening up the windows on all floors of 
*‘B” for ventilation to enable the men to 
stay on the floors. 

The cutting away of the elevator from 
“A” up the outside of “B” would prevent the 
accumulation of heat and gas in the upper 
floors of “B,” which eventually resulted in 
these upper floors going afire. This point 
should then be covered with lines, and with 
lines working from the shaft doors should 
kill the fire in shaft and across shaft to 
floors of “A.” 

Why was it necessary to cut holes in wall 
at seventh and eighth stories? Was this 
building without windows? The proper 
thing in this case was to place the water 
tower in the rear and place extension lad¬ 
ders against the front (in the absence of 
fire escapes), and send the lines to the dif¬ 
ferent floors above the fourth. This would 
keep the men on the least smoky side of the 
fire, and let the tower do the work where 
there was the most difficulty. 

Ques. 9:—What are the conditions as to 
fire protection on Blackwell’s, Randall’s and 
Ward’s Islands? What improvements, if 
any, would you suggest? 

ANS.:—For Blackwell’s, Ward’s and Ran¬ 
dall’s Islands, the second section of Engine 
Company No. 16 will proceed to the foot 
of 26th Street, East River, where transporta¬ 
tion will be furnished by the authorities in 
charge of those islands. H. and L. Com¬ 
pany No. 26 will proceed to the foot of East 
116th Street, where transportation will be 
furnished by the authorities in charge of 
those islands. 

Should any assistance be required for an 
alarm of fire on either of those islands, it 
will be obtained by using the Special Call 
signals or telephone. When any of the 
Fireboats are responding to alarms of fire 
for either of the islands (except Engine 
Company No. 51), they will stop at the pier 
at the foot of East 26th Street for instruc¬ 
tions. Telephone connections exist between 
all the islands and the pier at the foot of 
East 26th Street, and the commanding offi¬ 
cer at a fire on either side of the island will 
immediately communicate the particulars 
and extent to the telephone operators of 
the Department of Charities, at East 26th 
Street, and the commanding officer of the 
force of this Department at 26th Street will 
either dismiss the companies, or, if required, 
send them to the fire. 

In addition, Engine Company No. 49 is 
stationed on Blackwell’s Island with full 


equipment and complement of men. The 
only addition to the equipment I would sug¬ 
gest is that, owing to the large number of 
juvenile delinquents and insane patients on 
these islands, a company should be placed 
on each island to respond promptly and ex¬ 
tinguish all fires in their incipiency. 

All of these buildings should be sprink- 
lered throughout. 

Date: August 28, 1914. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES—Weight 1. 

(To be finished at 12.30 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—You observe the following at 
fires at which you are present: 

(a) State in each case whether the con¬ 
dition is a violation of the law; 

(b) Give the essential provisions of the 
law governing each case. 

(1) A wholesale dry goods merchant has 
a number of empty wooden packing cases 
stored in a section of his basement, which 
is 20 feet long, 10 feet wide and 7 feet high. 

(2) A rag shop is located in the basement 
of a tenement house. 

(3) In a ten-story office building there is 
a 3-inch standpipe with a one-way 3-inch 
connection at the street in the sidewalk ele¬ 
vator shaft ten inches below the sidewalk. 

(4) Packing cases are stored in a vacant 
lot having a metal fence 15 feet high and 
situated 60 feet from the nearest building, 
which is a moving picture theatre. 

(5) In a house which is occupied by 
three families living independently of each 
other and doing their own cooking on the 
premises, the only means of egress in case 
of fire are the stairs, which are situated in 
the rear of the house, and the fire escape 
on the rear wall, which may be reached 
from the windows of the public hall. 

(6) All the fireproof shutters at the front 
of a loft building are securely bolted from 
within, and the Firemen have great difficulty 
in forcing them open. 

(7) A retail druggist carries in stock flash¬ 
light powders for the use of photographers. 

(8) The only fire escapes in a three-family 
tenement house are located on the side 
walls of the house, and each tenant has 
access to this fire escape through a large 
bathroom of his apartment. 

(9) A fire has spread at night to an ad¬ 
joining loft building before the arrival of 
the Firemen, because although the second 
building was supplied with fireproof shut¬ 
ters, they had not been closed. 

ANS.:—(1-a) No violation. 

(1-b) Permit is required where the quan¬ 
tity stored exceeds 2,000 cubic feet, while in 
this case the quantity is only 1,400 cubic 
feet. Places where boxes, etc., are stored 
must be surrounded by a substantial fence 
not less than 10 nor more than 18 feet in 
height above the street level. If any build¬ 
ing having an unpierced fire wall adjoins the 
enclosure, no fence shall be required on the 
s L de „ of such buildin &- The storage space 
shall be separated from any window or door 
opening in the wall of an adjoining build- 


ing by a substantial fence of fire-resisting 
material satisfactory to the Fire Commis¬ 
sioner, erected at least 6 feet from such 
opening and extended at least 6 feet on each 
side thereof, and continued to the sides of 
the enclosure or continued to the walls of 
the building. The walls of any building 
used for such storage must be of fireproof 
material, except in the sparsely populated 
portions of the city. Must not be situated 
within 50 feet of any building occupied as 
a school, hospital, theatre or other place of 
public amusement or assembly. Shall not 
be piled to a height greater than 6 inches 
below the enclosing wall. Excelsior, saw¬ 
dust, paper and packing material shall be 
removed daily. Electric motors must be en¬ 
closed in an approved manner. There must 
be ten 12-quart buckets for each 2,500 feet 
of floor surface, or in lieu thereof, hose of 
at least 1-inch diameter, with a nozzle of 
at least }4-inch diameter, sufficient in 
length to reach all parts of the enclosure 
and connected to an adequate supply of 
water. 

(2-a) This is a violation. 

(2-b) The Tenement House Law provides 
that no tenement house, or any part there¬ 
of, or the lot on which it is situated, shall 
be used as a place of storage of any article 
dangerous to life or health, or for the 
storage keeping or handling of feed, hay, 
straw, excelsior, feathers, paper stock or 
rags. 

(3-a) This is a violation in regard to the 
placing of the Siamese connection. If the 
building was erected previous to the pas¬ 
sage of the present Building Code, the 
3-inch standpipe was not a violation, but if 
erected since the 3-inch standpipe is a viola¬ 
tion. It should be 4 inches. 

(3-b) Standpipes constructed and in¬ 
stalled, as hereinafter required, shall be 
provided: 

In every building now existing and ex¬ 
ceeding 85 feet in height which is not al¬ 
ready provided with a 3-inch or larger 
standpipe. In every building hereafter 
erected or altered to exceed 85 feet in 
height, and in every building exceeding 
10,000 square feet in area. 

Size: Standpipes hereafter placed in any 
building shall be not less than 4-inch when 
not exceeding 150 feet in height, nor less 
than 6 inches in diameter for buildings or 
parts thereof exceeding 150 feet in height, 
and not exceeding 250 feet in height; and 
not less than 8 inches in diameter for build¬ 
ings or parts thereof exceeding 250 feet in 
height. The number of standpipes in any 
building shall be such that all parts of each 
story are within the reach of one stream 
supplied by hose not exceeding 100 feet in 
length. When a building requiring stand¬ 
pipes faces on more than one street, at least 
one standpipe shall be installed for each 
street front, provided that for intersecting 
street fronts one standpipe shall be suffi¬ 
cient for each intersection. So far as prac¬ 
ticable, standpipes shall be placed in stair 
enclosures, otherwise they shall be as near 
the stairs as possible. All standpipes shall 


extend from the lowest story through and 
above the roof. All standpipes shall be con¬ 
structed in accordance with the rules estab¬ 
lished by the Fire Commissioner, and where 
there is more than one standpipe in a build¬ 
ing they shall be cross-connected in an ap¬ 
proved manner below the sidewalk level. 

(4-a) No violation. 

(4-b) The same provisions govern as an¬ 
swered in sub-division (1-b) of this ques¬ 
tion. 

(5-a) This is a violation. 

(5-b) The public hall includes the stairs, 
stair halls and all portions used to go from 
the entrance story to the roof. The Tene¬ 
ment House Law provides that all fire es¬ 
capes shall open directly from at least one 
room or private hall in each apartment at 
each story above the ground floor, and shall 
not be in a bathroom or water closet com¬ 
partment, and shall not include the window 
of a stair hall; and such room or private 
hall shall be an integral part of such apart¬ 
ment, and shall be accessible to every room 
thereof without passing through a public 
hall. 

(6-a) Not being provided with hand-holes 
for those opening on fire escapes, and one 
row vertically in every three on the front 
of the building, it would be a violation. 

(6-b) Every building which is more than 
two stories in height above the curb level, 
except dwelling houses, hotels, school 
houses and churches, shall have doors, 
blinds or shutters made of iron, hung to 
iron hanging frames, or to iron eyes built 
into the wall on every exterior window or 
opening above the first story, and when 
such opening is distant less than 30 feet 
from any opening in any other building, and 
not in the same plane with said opening, or 
when said opening is not more than 50 feet 
above a neighboring roof. At least one 
row vertically in every three on front win¬ 
dow openings shall be arranged to be 
readily opened from the outside. Dis¬ 
tinguishing marks satisfactory to the Fire 
Commissioner shall be provided on these 
shutters. When fire doors or shutters open 
on fire escapes or exterior exits of any kind, 
they shall be so arranged as not to obstruct 
such fire escape or exit. 

(7-a) This is a violation. 

(7-b) No person shall manufacture or 
store in a wholesale drug house, or drug and 
chemical supply house, or in a retail drug 
store, any of the following substances: 
Acetylide of Copper, Amide or Amine Ex¬ 
plosive; Chloride of Nitrogen; Colored 
fire in any form; Flashlight Powders, Ful¬ 
minate or any Fulminating Compound; 
Guncotton; Gunpowder in any form; 
Liquid Acetylene; Nitro Glycerine, except 
in the official U. S. Pharmacopoeia solution, 
or in the form of pills, tablets or granules 
containing not more than one-fiftieth of a 
grain each; Picrates; Potassium Chlorate in 
admixture with organic substances, or with 
phosphorous or sulphur, except that tablets 
of chlorate of potash to be used solely for 
medicinal purposes may be stored. 

(8-a) This is a violation. 


177 


(8-b) The Tenement House Law provides 
that all fire escapes in the house described 
shall open directly from one room or private 
hall in each apartment at each story above 
the ground floor, other than a bathroom or 
water closet compartment, and shall not in¬ 
clude the window of a stair hall, and such 
room or private hall shall be an integral 
part of said apartment, and accessible to 
every room thereof without passing through 
a public hall; access to fire escapes shall not 
be obstructed in any way. 

(9-a) This is a violation. 

(9-b) The Building Code requires that all 
fire doors, fire shutters and fire windows on 
exterior openings, unless provided with ap¬ 
proved automatic closing devices, operated 
from either side, shall be closed when not 
required to be open, and at the close of 
business each day, by the Occupant or 
Occupants of the building having the use or 
control of same. 

(To be finished at 12.30 P. M.) 

Ques. 2:—(a) State the conditions under 
which a Fire Marshal may legally force his 
way into a private residence for fire preven¬ 
tion purposes? 

(b) Give a full account of the procedure 
you would take if you had reason to believe 
that a certain dry goods dealer in your dis¬ 
trict deliberately set fire to his store for the 
purpose of collecting insurance thereon. 

ANS.:—(a) The Fire Marshal, or his 
officers and agents when authorized by him 
in writing to do so, may enter any building 
or premises in the city for the purpose of 
examining or causing to be examined the 
stoves and pipes thereto, ranges and 
furnaces and heating apparatus of every 
kind whatsoever, including the chimneys, 
flues and pipes with which the same may be 
connected; engine rooms, boilers, ovens and 
kettles, and also all chemical apparatus or 
other things which, in his opinion, would be 
dangerous in causing or promoting fire, or 
dangerous to the occupants in case of fire. 
On finding any of them defective or danger¬ 
ous, or in any manner exposed or liable to 
fire from any cause, he shall report the same 
to the Commissioner, who may thereupon 
issue orders or special directions, either 
printed or written, directing the owner or 
occupant to alter, remove or remedy the 
same in such manner and within such rea¬ 
sonable time as may be necessary, and in 
respect thereto may authorize and direct the 
use of such materials and appliances as shall 
be deemed proper and necessary. In case of 
neglect or refusal so to do within the time 
prescribed by such directions, such Fire 
Marshal, under the direction of the Fire 
Commissioner, shall cause such alteration, 
removal or other necessary work to be done, 
and the expense thereof shall be charged to 
the party so offending, to be sued for and 
recovered in the manner provided for the 
recovery of fines and penalties under the 
Charter. In addition thereto, the party so 
offending shall forfeit the sum of fifty dol¬ 
lars to be recovered in said action or in an 


action brought therefor by the Fire Com¬ 
missioner. This section fully explains un¬ 
der what conditions a Fire Marshal can 
legally force his way into buildings for Fire 
Prevention purposes. 

(b) The conditions at the fire would 
govern my actions. In general, I would first 
notify the Fire Marshal, and if the evidence 
was liable to be removed or destroyed, re¬ 
main on the premises personally until the 
arrival of the Marshal; in any event, leave 
a man at the fire with instructions to pre¬ 
vent the removal or disturbance of any evi¬ 
dence until the arrival of the Fire Marshal 
or his assistants. As stated, my action 
would be largely governed by the condition 
which aroused my suspicion, such as the 
character of the fire, the condition of the 
stock in the store, empty boxes and other 
circumstances showing the absence of stock, 
the presence of containers of a character 
not usual in a dry goods store, the gas jets, 
electric lighting system, the location of the 
office of the store, and, if possible, locate 
the books of the concern and prevent their 
removal except by the Marshal. 

I would not intimate in any way to the 
owner of the store that I was suspicious, 
but, by quiet inquiry in the vicinity of the 
fire, ascertain the feeling of the neighbors, 
who will often, in a feeling of resentment, 
after a suspicious fire, drop hints which may 
give valuable leads, and which when cooled 
off after a fire they would be more careful 
in expressing. 

If there was positive evidence that the 
fire was incendiary. I would keep the owner 
on the ground until the arrival of the Mar¬ 
shal, and, if necessary, in case he tried to 
leave, frame up an argument which would 
result in his detention until the Marshal was 
on the ground. I would ascertain every fact 
possible in relation to the fire, and call the 
attention of other officers of the Depart¬ 
ment at the fire to the points noted, and 
have them pay attention to same so that 
they could be used as witnesses, if neces¬ 
sary, and would know exactly what they 
were talking about. The condition of the 
entrances to the store on the arrival of the 
Department would also be considered, for 
while an incendiary fire, it may be caused by 
others than the owner. 

Ques. 8:—What licenses and permits are 
issued by the Fire Department? What is 
the purpose of each? Name other permits 
and licenses issued by other departments 
with which the Fire Department is closely 
concerned. 

ANS.:—Certificate of approval: A writ¬ 
ten statement issued by the Fire Commis- 
sioner certifying that the type, kind or class 
of article or thing mentioned therein has 
been examined, tested and approved in con¬ 
formity with the regulations and is au¬ 
thorized to be manufactured, transported, 
stored and used. 

Certificate of fitness: A written statement 
issued by the Fire Commissioner certify¬ 
ing that the person to whom it is issued has 
passed an examination as to his qualifica- 


178 


tions to perform the work mentioned there¬ 
in, and that he has authority to perform 
such work during the term therein specified. 

Certificate of registration: A written 
statement issued by the Fire Commissioner 
certifying that the person, association or 
corporation named therein has registered 
his or its name with the Commissioner in 
conformity with the provisions of the reg¬ 
ulations. 

Permits: The written authority of the 
Fire Commissioner, issued pursuant to law, 
for the manufacture, transportation, storage, 
sale or use of any finished or unfinished 
product, article or thing, or substance en¬ 
tering into the composition thereof, and ap¬ 
plies to all the different buildings and lines 
of business covered by the regulations con¬ 
trolling explosives and hazardous trades. 

Permits issued by the Department of 
Water Supply, Gas and Electricity regard¬ 
ing fire hydrants. 

Licensing operators of motion picture 
machines: Commissioner of Licenses issues 
licenses for motion picture theatres after 
approval by the Fire Commissioner. 

Bureau of Highways: Permits the clos¬ 
ing of streets for certain purposes, when the 
Department should be notified. 

Theatre licenses: Are issued by the 
Commissioner of Licenses, and cannot be 
issued until the building is approved by the 
Fire Commissioner. 

Ques. 4:—A city ordinance provides that 
certain classes of buildings shall be “fire¬ 
proof.” Name them. What is the meaning 
of “fireproof” according to the intent of this 
ordinance? Give full details. 

ANS.:—Every building hereafter erected 
shall be a fireproof building as follows: 

Every public building over 20 feet high 
in which persons are harbored to receive 
medical, charitable or other care or treat¬ 
ment, or in which persons are held or de¬ 
tained under legal restraint. 

Every other public building over 40 feet 
high or exceeding 5,000 square feet in area. 

Every residence building, except tene¬ 
ments, over 40 feet in height and having- 
more than 15 sleeping rooms. 

Every tenement house exceeding 6 
stories, or parts of stories, as provided in 
the Tenement House Law. 

Every residence building having more 
than 15 sleeping rooms and exceeding 2,500 
square feet in area, unless divided by in¬ 
terior partition walls of approved masonry 
or re-enforced concrete into sections of less 
than 2,500 square feet area. 

Every other residence building over 75 
feet in height. 

Every business building used as a garage 
within the fire limits; every garage within 
the suburban limits exceeding 600 square 
feet in area or 15 feet in height, or not 
located as provided in Section 91 of Chapter 
5 of the Building Code, and every garage 
outside these restricted areas over 40 feet 
in height. 

Every business building used for a haz¬ 


ardous trade, as indicated in Sections 171 
and 212, Chapter 10, of the Code of Ordi¬ 
nances. 

Every building over 4 stories high used as 
a factory, as defined in the Labor Law. 

Every building or structure within the 
fire limits or the suburban limits used as a 
grain elevator or coal pocket. 

Every business building over 75 feet in 
height. 

Every business building within the fire 
limits or the suburban limits which exceeds 
an area of 7,500 square feet when located on 
an interior lot or when facing on only one 
street, or 12,000 square feet when facing on 
two streets, or 15,000 square feet when fac¬ 
ing on three or more streets, provided that 
when any such building is equipped 
throughout with an approved system of 
automatic sprinklers, fireproof construction 
shall be required only when the areas ex¬ 
ceed double those specified for the respec¬ 
tive conditions, and provided also that 
when any such building is divided by ap¬ 
proved interior fire walls, fireproof con¬ 
struction shall be required only when any 
undivided area exceeds 7,500 square feet. 
Buildings of greater area than specified for 
the respective conditions may, considering 
location and purpose, be constructed non- 
fireproof by special permission of the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings, provided they do 
not exceed two stories in height. 

A fireproof building is one that is con¬ 
structed to resist the action of fire, con¬ 
structed as follows: Walls of re-enforced 
concrete or masonry. All iron and steel 
construction encased in fireproofing ma¬ 
terial securely applied. Floors and roofs to 
consist of slabs or arches of brick, terra 
cotta, stone, concrete or cinder concrete. 
Partitions, unless built as approved masonry 
walls, shall be independently supported at 
each floor and shall be securely keyed to 
the ceiling, and stiffened with steel up¬ 
rights, when necessary. Stairways must be 
of fireproof material. No woodwork shall 
be used, except that floor sleepers, door 
bucks and grounds may be of wood, pro¬ 
vided that they are not exposed on any 
side in any floors, ceilings, partitions, 
furrings or other interior finish in fireproof 
buildings. 

When the height of a building does not 
exceed 150 feet, the doors and windows and 
their frames, the trim casings and other in¬ 
terior finish when filled solid at the back 
with fireproof material and the flooring may 
be of wood. When the height of a build¬ 
ing exceeds 150 feet, the flooring shall be 
of incombustible material or of fireproof 
wood, provided that in public halls and 
stairways no wood of any kind except for 
handrails shall be allowed. The inside win¬ 
dow frames and sash doors, trim and other 
interior finish shall be of metal, or of wood 
covered with metal, or of any incombusti¬ 
ble material, or fireproofed wood, or any 
other combination of materials that will 
show equally good results as fireproofed 
wood. All exterior window frames and 
sash shall be of metal or of wood covered 


179 


with metal in manner approved by the 
Superintendent of Buildings. 

Ques. 5:— What fire appliances and means 
of protection against fire would you expect 
to find in a newly built (a) apartment house 
8 stories high; (b) theatre; (c) department 
store, 0 floors? 

ANS.:—(a) Fire alarm connection with 
Fire Headquarters, standpipe, fire hose, 
buckets, hooks, axes and fire doors, as re¬ 
quired by the Fire Commissioner. The 
cellar segregated from the upper floors. 
Halls and stairs enclosed in brick walls. 
Second-story floor to be fireproof. The 
stairs to be fireproof. 

(b) A sufficient quantity of 2}4-inch hose, 
not less than 100 feet in length, attached to 
each hose outlet, as the Fire Commissioner 
may direct, with proper nozzles and span¬ 
ners at each outlet. A separate and distinct 
system of automatic sprinklers, supplied 
with water from a tank over the stage, and 
not connected in any manner with the 
stand pipes, shall be placed at each side of 
the proscenium opening and on the ceiling 
or roof over the stage, so as to protect every 
square foot of the stage when the sprinklers 
are in operation. Automatic sprinklers shall 
be placed, wherever practicable, in the 
dressing rooms under the stage and in the 
carpenter shop, paint room, store room and 
property rooms. 

Standpipes 4 inches in diameter shall be 
provided with hose attachments on each 
floor and gallery as follows: One on each 
side of the auditorium in each tier, also on 
each side of the stage in each tier, and at 
least one in the carpenter shop and one in 
the property room if the same be contig¬ 
uous to the building. Such standpipes shall 
be separate and distinct, receiving their 
supply of water from the power pump or 
pumps, and shall be fitted with the regula¬ 
tion couplings of the Fire Department and 
kept constantly supplied with water by a 
power pump or pumps of sufficient capacity 
to supply all the lines of hose when oper¬ 
ated simultaneously. Said pumps shall be 
supplied from the street main and be ready 
for immediate use at all times during any 
performance in the said building. Stand¬ 
pipes shall be constructed in an approved 
manner. There shall also be kept in readi¬ 
ness for immediate use on the stage at least 
4 casks full of water, with two buckets to 
each cask, and shall be painted red. There 
shall also be provided hand pumps or other 
portable fire extinguishing fire apparatus, 
and at least four axes and two 25-foot 
hooks, two 15-foot hooks and two 10-foot 
hooks on each tier or floor of the stage. 

The building must be of fireproof con¬ 
struction throughout. All gas lights must 
be properly protected by fireproof materials. 
Has connections supplying the building 
must have separate connections for the 
stage and auditorium, and provision made to 
shut the gas off from the outside of the 
building. 


guards and screens. Fire alarm box for di¬ 
rect communication with Fire Headquarters. 
Firemen detailed to the theatre during the 
performance for the prevention of fire or 
panic. Fireproof stairways and fire es¬ 
capes. Protective curtain properly installed. 
A properly constructed ventilating sky¬ 
light over the stage, with arrangements to 
open same promptly. 

(c) I assume this building does not ex¬ 
ceed 75 feet in height, and, therefore, would 
not have to be firepioof unless it exceeded 
the areas laid down in the Building Code 
and was not sprinklered. It should be 
equipped with an automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tem, standpipes and hose, buckets, ex¬ 
tinguishers, fire hooks and axes, and pump 
or pumps for supplying the standpipes and 
automatic sprinkler system. There should 
be a fire brigade properly drilled in the 
plant, made up of the employes; sufficient 
watchmen; an interior fire-alarm system 
with bells or gongs on each floor, to be 
worked in connection with an approved fire 
drill to empty the building as quickly as 
possible in case of fire or accident. All 
stairways and elevators should be enclosed 
fireproof throughout, and, in fact, this ap¬ 
plies to all vertical openings in the building, 
including chutes, dumb-waiters, etc. The 
boiler room should be cut off from the rest 
of the building, and the packing room pro¬ 
vided with fireproof receptacles for pack¬ 
ing material when not being used and at 
the close of business each day. 

If the building is of large area, it should 
be separated by fire walls, so as to pro¬ 
vide horizontal exits, which, in my opinion, 
are the only safe means of emptying a build¬ 
ing of this character. The fire escapes 
should be regular outside balcony and stair 
type, with red lights to indicate same at 
night, and exit signs placed over each exrt. 
There should be an automatic fire-alarm 
system, with provision for immediately 
notifying Fire Headquarters in case of fire. 
This could be very easily arranged in con¬ 
junction with the sprinkler system, so that 
the instant a head was fused an alarm would 
be transmitted to the Department. All 
aisles and passageways should be kept 
clear and unobstructed, waste material be¬ 
hind the counters removed at frequent in¬ 
tervals, and the sprinkler heads and all fire 
appliances kept unobstructed. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight 1. 

Ques. 1:—Assume that you are in com¬ 
mand of a Division of 3 Battalions of 8 
companies each. In each Battalion there 
are 5 engine companies, 2 of these being 
double companies, and 3 hook and ladder 
companies, 1 of which is a double company. 
Make out a schedule covering a period of 5 
days, allowing all officers the leaves pro¬ 
vided for in the rules and regulations and 
showing the officers in command of the 
various companies. State also how many 


Stage lights must be protected by wire 

180 


officers you would require to carry out this 
schedule, assuming that the hours for meals 
are to be between 6.45 A. M. and 8 P. M. 

NOTE:—To the majority of the Battalion 
Chiefs who competed in this examination 
this was a brain-racker. It would take an 
experienced Deputy Chief several hours to 
prepare a schedule like this in a new Divi¬ 
sion, and the only Battalion Chiefs who 
were able to do justice to this question were 
those who had had experience as Acting 
Deputy Chiefs. It would take the average 
Battalion Chief without experience as a Dep¬ 
uty Chief perhaps six hours to prepare a 
schedule like this, especially in an exam¬ 
ination room. 

These schedules are a source of great an¬ 
noyance to the Deputy Chiefs, some of 
whom puzzle over them for hours. They 
say it takes a good chess player to do the 
job with celerity. 

Advocates of the Two-Platoon system 
point to these schedules as an object lesson 
of the kaleidoscopic conditions that neces¬ 
sarily obtain under the Continuous Duty 
system. 

Under the Two-Platoon system there 
would be no need for such a tangle. If the 
Meal Leaves were to be added to this sched¬ 
ule there would be a Chinese puzzle, indeed 
—more than half of the force would be ab¬ 
sent during a good part of the twenty-four 
hours. Under the Platoon system the force 
of men and officers would be divided into 
two equal shifts. The same officer would 
always be in command of the same men, 
and no one need ever be absent except on 
vacation or sick leave. 

This schedule, so far as known, is the first 
exhibit of its kind ever printed. Although 
the question calls only for a schedule, the 
following explanation is given for purposes 
of instruction.—EDITOR. 

ANS.:—See accompanying schedule. 

EXPLANATION:—The following leaves 
are granted in the New York Fire Depart¬ 
ment: All members receive 24 hours off, 
beginning 8 P. M., every fifth day. All be¬ 
low the rank of Lieutenant receive extra 
12-hour leaves, beginning 8 P. M., four times 
a month. Captains and Lieutenants receive 
extra 12-hour leaves, beginning 8 P. M., 
three times a month. Chief Officers and 
Acting Chief Officers receive 30-day vaca¬ 
tions; Captains and Lieutenants, 21 days; 
Firemen, 14 days. Deputy Chiefs have noth¬ 
ing to do with arranging schedules of meal 
leaves; the Chiefs of Battalion attend to 
that. 

“Regular leaves” in the schedule means 
24 hours off, beginning 8 A. M. 

“X” in the schedule indicates the officers 
off on 12-hour leaves, which begin at 8 P. M. 
of the preceding day. With approximately 
four relieving officers in each Battalion, 
there would be at least two spare officers in 
each Battalion at night. 


“A. B. C.” indicates that the Captain is 
acting as Battalion Chief on that day. The 
Chief of the 3rd Battalion acts as Deputy 
Chief of the Division on the second day, 
while the Deputy Chief is on a “day-off” 
(24-hour leave). The Chief of the 3rd Bat¬ 
talion is relieved on that day by the Acting 
Chief (Captain of H. and L. 9). 

“L. V.” indicates Lieutenant on Vacation. 
With 22 officers in each Battalion, there 
would be one on vacation all the year 
around, while in the summer months there 
would be two. 

The officers shown are considered neces¬ 
sary to properly man the Division. There 
are three Battalions of 8 companies each, re¬ 
quiring 24 Captains. There are nine double 
companies. Each double company (a com¬ 
pany of two sections, the first section of 
which responds to first alarms, while the 
second section remains in quarters) has a 
Captain and 3 Lieutenants. Therefore, in 
addition to the 1 Lieutenant required in sin¬ 
gle companies, there are 9 companies which 
require 2 Lieutenants extra each, making 18 
extra Lieutenants; a total of 42 Lieutenants, 
14 in each Battalion, and a grand total of 
66 Company Officers, 3 Battalion Chiefs 
and 1 Deputy Chief. 

In arranging the schedule it must be 
borne in mind that the rules require that 
not more than one-third of each grade of 
Company Officers shall be absent at one 
time, nor shall both officers of a company 
be absent at the same time, except in the 
vacation time of either of the Company 
Officers; and that officers of adjoining com¬ 
panies are not on leave on the same dates. 

This schedule provides for 16 officers off 
the first day, 18 off on the second and fourth 
days and 15 off on the third and fifth days. 
The largest number off, it will be observed, 
is 18. Subtracting 18 from 66 leaves 44 
officers on duty. Allowing 1 to each single 
company, or 15, and 2 to each double com¬ 
pany, or 18, we have 33 officers necessary to 
man the 24 companies. This leaves a re¬ 
mainder of 11 officers available for relieving 
officers on meal leave, which is approxi¬ 
mately 4 to each Battalion of 8 companies. 
It must be remembered that these are the 
days on which the largest number of officers 
is absent; on the other days the conditions 
are slightly better. 

Reading horizontally across the schedule 
reveals where each officer is, and the num¬ 
ber off. Reading vertically downwards, 
with the company numbers at the top as a 
guide, shows whether any officer in any 
particular company is away, and for how 
long. 

In arranging their schedule of meal leaves, 
Battalion Chiefs, if they are short through 
illness, special detail or otherwise, notify 
the Deputy Chief, who will make details 
from one Battalion to another, and when 
this is not possible the Deputy Chief will 
notify the Chief of Department, who will 
then handle the situation. 


181 



182 


*2 8>, /9/V.) 






















































































































































Ques: 2:—(a) Describe clearly the differ¬ 
ence between the inspection of companies 
by Deputy Chiefs and by Battalion Chiefs 
as prescribed by the rules and regulations 
of the Department. Mention all important 
points of difference. 

(b) Compare the powers of Deputy 
Chiefs and of Battalion Chiefs in the mat¬ 
ter of making details and granting leaves to 
officers and members of the uniformed 
force. 

ANS.:—(a) Deputy Chiefs shall make in¬ 
spections of the respective Battalions in 
their district in company with the Chief of 
each Battalion during the months of April 
and October in each year. They shall make 
a thorough inspection of quarters, appara¬ 
tus, horses, tools, etc., fuel depots, fuel 
wagons, fuel cans, quantity of coal on hand 
and general condition of all Department 
buildings in each Battalion. Also cables 
used on ladders, water towers and for life¬ 
saving purposes to ascertain their condition, 
and shall immediately report any defects or 
deficiencies found to exist. 

Battalion Chiefs shall visit each company 
and Department building over which they 
may have supervision in their Battalion dis¬ 
trict at least twice each week and inspect 
the company journal, apparatus, horses, 
hose, tools, implements, men and everything 
in and about quarters thoroughly and care¬ 
fully, and enter over their signature on the 
company journal the condition of every¬ 
thing as they find it. 

The difference in the inspections is that 
Deputy Chiefs inspect semi-annually, while 
Battalion Chiefs inspect at least twice a 
week. The inspection of the Deputy Chief 
on uniforms is to condemn any not up to 
the standard for the period to come up to 
the next inspection, while Battalion Chiefs 
attend only to the present condition of the 
uniform as worn. Deputy Chiefs also in¬ 
spect the rubber boots, coats and fire hel¬ 
mets. The inspection of the Deputy Chief 
on tools and apparatus is a test of each piece 
of apparatus to ascertain its weakness, if 
any, while the inspection of the Battalion 
Chief is to examine as to general cleanliness 
and see if the tools are in use and ready for 
use. The inspection of the Deputy Chief 
on buildings is to ascertain and report any 
improvements desirable or necessary, while 
the Battalion Chief would report defects at 
present existing, and the condition in which 
the building is kept at all times. The Bat¬ 
talion Chief inspects the company journal 
and signs same as to conditions found, while 
the Deputy Chief does not make this in¬ 
spection. 

(b) The Deputy Chief has the power to 
detail Officers and Engineers of Steamer 
from one Battalion to another, when neces¬ 
sary, said detail not to exceed 24 hours, and 
in all cases shall report to the Chief of De¬ 
partment the reason for such detail. The 
Battalion Chief is responsible for the con¬ 
dition, efficiency and manning of each com¬ 
pany in his Battalion and makes necessary 
details to equalize the companies. He can 
also grant leaves in case of dangerous ill¬ 


ness or death in immediate family of a mem¬ 
ber, from Captain down, such leaves not to 
exceed 72 hours. He also grants the reg¬ 
ular 12 and 24-hour leaves to the officers 
and men above stated, and arranges the 
meal hours and reliefs covering the officers 
and engineers absent on leave. In case he 
cannot, for any reason, arrange these leaves, 
he must report the fact to his Deputy Chief, 
who will make the necessary details, and 
if he is unable to provide for the emergency, 
he must report the fact to the Chief of 
Department. 

Ques. 3:—Discuss the Fire College as to 
its purposes, courses offered, and the effi¬ 
ciency of the work accomplished. Make 
suggestions that appear to you advisable 
looking toward the extension of this work, 
including measures that you consider would 
increase its usefulness. 

ANS.:—The purpose of the Fire College 
is to utilize the experience and ability ac¬ 
quired by the most efficient members of the 
Department for the benefit of the whole De¬ 
partment. To accomplish this, instruction 
is given by the ablest officers on the opera¬ 
tion, use and care of apparatus, tools, etc., 
discipline and duties of men and officers, 
and the best methods of fire-fighting. Fires 
are classified, and then, so far as may be 
practical, uniform methods for dealing with 
fires of a similar nature are suggested. The 
instruction has, as its ultimate objective, to 
cover the entire field of duty in the uni¬ 
formed force, although its extension must 
naturally be gradual. 

Previous to the establishment of the Col¬ 
lege, the experience acquired by the older 
officers of the Department was only of use 
to those individuals; now the younger mem¬ 
bers are able to share in this knowledge. 
The older officers also benefit as the result 
of this clearing house of ideas. 

The Fire College is composed of the fol¬ 
lowing schools. Officers’ School, Engineers’ 
School, Probationary Firemen’s School and 
Company School. 

It maintains courses of instruction in the 
following subjects: General fire-fighting; 
use of apparatus and tools; engines and 
boilers; the high-pressure system; marine 
fires; care of horses; care of hose; sapping 
and mining; high-tension electric currents; 
combustibles and explosives; gasoline 
motor engineering; fire-alarm telegraph, in¬ 
cluding auxiliary systems; first-aid to the 
injured; discipline and administration. 

It is administered by the Fire College 
Board. The Chief of Department shall be 
President ex officio, and the Board is sub¬ 
ject to the control of the Commissioner. 
Final examinations shall be held and re¬ 
ports made to the Commissioner of all 
members who have successfully completed 
the course. 

Officers’ School: All officers of the De¬ 
partment, except members of the Fire Col¬ 
lege, and all Engineers and Firemen who 
are eligible for promotion to the rank of 
Lieutenant, shall attend under such rules 
and regulations as shall be from time to 


time established by the Board. Instruction 
in this school will be given in two sections, 
which shall consist of 25 members each, to 
be announced from time to time in the 
orders of the Department. Sections shall 
be required to attend three times a week, 
from 10.00 A. M. to 1.00 P. M., for a period 
of six weeks, for instruction. The two sec¬ 
tions will be under instruction at the same 
time on alternative days. 

Engineers’ School: Shall be attended by 
all Engineers, and Firemen of the first and 
second grades on their own application, ap¬ 
proved by the Board, will be granted per¬ 
mission to attend. The course of instruc¬ 
tion in this school will be limited to an ex¬ 
tended course in engines, boilers and gaso¬ 
line motor engineering. 

Probationary Firemen’s School: Shall be 
attended by all Probationary Firemen for at 
least 30 days upon their appointment. The 
instruction in this school will be limited to 
practical instruction in the use of tools, 
scaling ladders and other life-saving ap¬ 
pliances, and elementary instruction in first- 
aid to the injured. No Probationary Fire¬ 
man shall be appointed who has not com¬ 
pleted this course to the satisfaction of the 
Board. 

Company School: All companies shall 
attend with their entire complement of 
members at such time and place as the 
Board may from time to time direct. This 
school shall include demonstrations in the 
use of apparatus and tools. 

Ques. 4:—Describe the formalties that 
must be observed 

(a) When a charge is preferred by a 
superior officer of the Fire Department 
against a subordinate; 

(b) When a Fireman prefers a charge 
against another Fireman; 

(c) When a civilian prefers a charge 
against a Fireman. 

ANS.:—(a) When charges are preferred 
in all cases specified, the charges are made 
by the Commanding Officer, and the person 
making the charge is entered as a witness. 
Officer receiving the charge must see that it 
is drawn in proper form, investigate, and 
forward the same to the next superior in 
command. When the accuser and accused 
belong to different companies in the same 
Battalion, the investigation will be made 
by the Battalion Chief. When they belong 
to different Battalions, by a Deputy Chief. 
Charges and report thereon must be 

promptly forwarded, each officer in turn en¬ 
dorsing his approval or disapproval on 

same, and stating whether the charges can 
be sustained by proper evidence. Charges 
shall not under any circumstances be with¬ 
held or suppressed by any officer. Charges 
may be drawn as a violation of laws, ordi¬ 
nances, rules, regulations or orders. The 
member making a charge must affix the 

names, grades and addresses of persons he 
thinks can give competent testimony in the 
case. If the Commanding Officer is com¬ 
plainant or a witness, he shall affix his 


name under the heading of witnesses. The 
accused shall have at least 48 hours’ notice 
of trial, and notices and a copy of charges 
must be served by the immediate Com¬ 
manding Officer as soon as received. In 
cases where the accused member cannot be 
found the Captain will make an affidavit 
that he has served the notice on the ac¬ 
cused, or, in case he cannot be found, on 
some person at his last known place of 
residence of proper age to receive same. If 
served on the accused, his condition at the 
time served, and whether in bed or fully 
dressed shall be noted. 

(b) The Captain makes the charge, in¬ 
vestigates same and puts the two men down 
as witnesses with the other witnesses, the 
charge giving the necessary particulars; and 
the Captain should obtain a statement from 
accuser and accused at the time of the oc¬ 
currence, so that there will be no lapses of 
memory at the trial. The company journal 
cannot be introduced as evidence, and the 
house watchman should be called to notice 
the dereliction for which the charge is made. 

(c) As already stated, the same pro¬ 
cedure is followed, the Captain obtaining 
statement from the complainant in writing 
and reporting the facts to the Commis¬ 
sioner regarding the case. The Command¬ 
ing Officer makes the charge, using the 
complainant as a witness. 


REPORT. 

Weight 2. 

(To be finished at 4.30 P. M.) 

Ques.:—The Chief of Department directs 
you to assume command of that division of 
the Department in which are located most 
of the high loft buildings occupied as 
factories for the manufacture of clothing of 
various kinds. Most of these buildings are 
more than six stories in height; they are 
concentrated along the avenues and the 
streets of a congested district; many men 
and women are employed on each floor of 
these buildings, and there is a large quan¬ 
tity of inflammable trade waste on each 
floor. 

The Chief of Department directs you to 
make an investigation of the fire hazard in 
this district with a view to reducing the 
danger to life and property which is at pres¬ 
ent existing in this district. 

Write a report of not less than 300 words 
to the Chief of Department outlining the 
scope of the investigation which you have 
made in compliance with his orders and pre¬ 
senting to him for consideration such 
specific recommendations for the reduction 
of the existing peril to life and property in 
this division as you feel you will be able to 
accomplish by means of the members of the 
uniformed fire-fighting force assigned to 
duty in this division. Give your reasons in 
support of each recommendation. 

(Do not sign any name, number, initials 
or title. If you do, you will be disqualified.) 


184 


ANSWER:— 

New York, August 28, 1915. 

John Kenlon, 

Chief of Department. 

Sir: 

In compliance with your orders, I have 
the honor to report as follows: 

I assqmed command of the Fourth Divi¬ 
sion on the 26th inst., and have made an 
inspection of the high loft buildings in this 
district, which are mainly occupied as cloth¬ 
ing manufactories. I respectfully make the 
following recommendations for the reduc¬ 
tion of existing perils to life and property 
in this class of buildings which I feel I will 
be able to accomplish with the force of uni¬ 
formed Firemen assigned to this division: 

With the force at present assigned to this 
division, I will be able to have a man from 
each company on inspection in the respec¬ 
tive company districts for about five hours 
daily, and, as a result of my inspection, I 
would recommend that they be instructed 
to pay particular attention to the following 
matters, which, in my opinion, will render 
the buildings more safe for the occupants 
and prevent the origination and spread of 
fire in the buildings, and from one building 
to another. 

I found the floors in some cases covered 
with waste clippings from material in 
course of manufacture, and no provision 
made for waste boxes or cans to store 
same, or for cleaning the floor at regular 
intervals. Firemen on inspection could see 
that this work was done, as accidental 
dropping of matches under such conditions 
would be very dangerous. 

I found some of the employes smoking in 
lofts where same is prohibited by law. As 
it is thought that this was the cause of the 
Asch Building fire, visits at unexpected 
periods by members of the uniformed force 
would reduce the danger from this source. 

In some cases doors leading from the 
lofts were found locked, and while the locks 
were small, the law was violated, and the 
danger of a crush at these doors in case of 
fire or panic, where one person might fall, 
cannot be overestimated. The inspecting 
fireman, by visiting these places, often 
would be able to remedy this violation, and 
in cases where it was violated more than 
once provision should be made to have an 
Inspector from the Fire Prevention Bureau 
accompany the Fireman to make an arrest. 

In some cases I found that the shutters on 
the building were not closed daily, and, in 
fact, had not been closed for months at a 
time, thus permitting the mutual exposure 
of the buildings and offering a ready means 
for the horizontal and vertical spread of fire, 
particularly in air and light shafts. 

The inspections by the Firemen and a 
continuance of the violation should be 
treated as specified in the foregoing para¬ 
graph, and an example made of these per¬ 
sons who persist in this violation. 

The majority of these factories manufac¬ 
ture clothing for female apparel from light 


flimsy material, and I would recommend 
that these buildings, in all cases, be 
equipped with automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tems, as, in my opinion, there is no other 
means so positive for the prevention of fires 
and panics in such buildings. There is no 
record of a life having been lost in a 
sprinklered building where the system was 
properly installed, attended to and given the 
reasonable attention required. The inspec¬ 
tion by the Fireman would show when 
these systems were out of order from any 
cause, and keep the officer of the Depart¬ 
ment in a position where he could work in¬ 
telligently on reaching a fire in these 
buildings. 

The Fireman could see that fire pails 
were kept filled with water; fire axes and 
hooks in position, and extinguishers not 
blocked. The pail of water at the begin¬ 
ning of a fire, in some cases, would have 
prevented a conflagration. 

All of these factories should have a fire 
drill, and where there is more than one 
factory in a building, they should be made 
to drill simultaneously, so that in case of 
fire there be a system that all would be 
acquainted with which would facilitate 
getting out in a reasonable time without 
confusion or panic. 

The fire escapes require attention by the 
inspecting Fireman, as also do the stair¬ 
ways. I found, in some cases, the fire es¬ 
capes were encumbered with waste ma¬ 
terial, and also the stairways. This was 
more prevalent in the older types of 
buildings. 

I consider it essential that a Fireman 
make these inspections regularly to see that 
these condition are avoided; that means of 
egress are unobstructed, and also in readi¬ 
ness for use by this Department. 

If these recommendations are carried out, 
I believe they will result in a reduction in 
the number of fires and prove an additional 
safeguard to the occupants, who are largely 
females. 

Respectfully submitted, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

DEPUTY CHIEF. 

Fire Department. 

Date: December 8, 1909. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

Weight 4. 

1. There is a third alarm fire which orig¬ 
inated on the fourth floor of the six-story 
building indicated on accompanying sketch 
and you are Acting Deputy Chief. The fol¬ 
lowing apparatus responds on the several 
alarms: First, four engines, two trucks, 

two Battalion Chiefs; second, five engines, 
one truck, a Deputy Chief (yourself); third, 
one truck, one Battalion Chief. On your 


185 




arrival you find the first alarm engines at 
hydrants F, G, H and J. What orders 
would you give regarding first alarm appa¬ 
ratus and that which subsequently re¬ 
sponds? State at which hydrant you would 
locate each of the 14 engines and the dis¬ 
position of the hose lines from each. 

2. Describe the various kinds of hook 
and ladder trucks, steam fire engines, hose 
wagons and water towers in use in the 
Fire Department. Tell how they are oper¬ 
ated, give their peculiarities of construc¬ 
tion, and state what tools, implements and 
devices are carried on each kind of appa¬ 
ratus. 

3. What would you do under the follow¬ 
ing conditions: 

(a) In case of a third alarm fire in the 
high-pressure district and all companies 
which have responded are working, and 
the high pressure falls? 

(b) In case a carboy of nitric or sul¬ 
phuric acid should become broken or con¬ 
tents spilled on floor and a number of 
men were overcome from the fumes of 
same, and there was no physician within 
the fire lines? 

(c) In case the insulation of an electric 
wire was burning off, how would you pro¬ 
ceed to extinguish it? 

4. Describe an automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tem. Explain how it operates. How are 
they supplied with water and under what 
conditions would you order Company Com¬ 
manders to connect to such a system? 

5. A fire originates on the first floor of 
a building 50 feet wide by 100 feet deep, 
on the east side of West Broadway, through 
which an elevated railroad runs, between 
Prince and Spring Streets, and on your ar¬ 
rival it has extended throughout the build¬ 
ing, and from indications has been burning 
for some time. The building is provided 
with but one stairway and has fire escapes 
on the front and iron shutters in the rear, 
and is stocked with paper. What would 
you do and how would you manage such a 
fire? 

For Brooklyn, the same size building on 
Myrtle Avenue, through which an elevated 
railroad runs, 100 feet from the corner of 
Jay Street. 

6. A fire originates one block (750 feet) 
from the river front in a four-story factory 
building and has also extended throughout 
same and through side windows to side 
windows of an adjoining ten-story factory 
building. It happens that owing to the land 
companies being engaged at two other 
large fires, one of the fire .boats, two hook 
and ladders and one hose wagon are the 
first apparatus to arrive. How would you 
use the apparatus at your command and 
what orders would you issue relative to 
extinguishing fire? 

7. Give the location of the high-pres¬ 
sure pumping station, the number and 
capacity of the pumps in use, size of the 
supply mains, where the supply is obtained, 


number and size of outlets on each hydrant, 
how hydrant is operated, at what pressure 
are the pumps started, and how is in¬ 
creased pressure obtained. Answer for 
Manhattan or Brooklyn. 

8. Assume a fire in the fifteenth story of 
a building to be fought from the roof of a 
13-story building across a 50-foot street, 
the latter provided with a 6-inch stand¬ 
pipe. How many and what size streams 
would you undertake to use; how many 
engines would it take to supply them, and 
at what pressure at an engine pumping 
through 300 feet of hose into the stand¬ 
pipe? Give your reasons. 


RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
Weight 2. 

Do not take more than five questions. 

1. In what way do the instructions to 
companies located in districts covered by 
the high-pressure system differ from the in¬ 
structions to companies outside such dis¬ 
tricts? State briefly the substance of addi¬ 
tions or amendments to the rules in your 
opinion necessary to connection with high- 
pressure system. 

2. Give the regulations for the use of 
the different sized hose and the reasons 
therefor. 

3. When a Chief of Battalion receives 
notice that permits for blasting operations 
have been issued by the Bureau of Com¬ 
bustibles in his battalion district, what, in 
detail, are the precautions he should take 
to protect and safeguard life and property 
in the vicinity where the explosives are to 
be used? What reports should he make in 
regard to the matter? 

4. At a large working fire at which many 
Firemen are overcome by smoke, one Fire¬ 
man is guilty of cowardice. He inflicts a 
superficial wound on his forehead, and 
when it is bleeding profusely he shams 
prostration and induces a policeman to 
send him to a hospital. You discover the 
facts before the ambulance drives away, 
but the policeman insists that the Fireman 
is too sick to remain at the fire: (a) What 
action would you take at the time? (b) 
What action would you take upon return¬ 
ing to quarters? Give your reasons in 
each case. 

5. When making a general inspection of 
your district, what examination, as Deputy 
Chief, would you conduct in order to ascer¬ 
tain if the following were in fit condition 
for fire purposes: 

(a) Apparatus; 

(b) Cables used on ladders; 

(c) Water towers; 

(d) Wrecking trucks; 

.(e) Fuel wagon and fuel depots? 

6. Give the substance of the various 
sections of the rules relating to the inspec¬ 
tion of theaters by the Fire Department and 
the various reports to be made on same. 


186 


LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 
Weight 2. 

Do not answer more than five questions. 
If more than five be answered, the addi¬ 
tional ones will not be rated. 

1. A fire of suspicious origin occurs in a 
four-story celluloid factory, resulting in the 
total destruction of the building and in a 
great loss of life. There were no fire 
escapes on the front of the building, and 
the windows on the second floor rear were 
barred by steel. There is no doubt that 
the casualties are due to the presence of 
the iron bars on the windows and to the 
absence of fire escapes on the front of the 
building. What officials or official bodies 
would be concerned in a thorough investi¬ 
gation conducted for the purpose of fixing 
the responsibility for the disaster, and the 
officials or official bodies that would con¬ 
duct such an investigation, giving reasons 
in full for your answers. 

2. (a) In a building used for manufac¬ 
turing or business purposes, what provision 
is made for regulating the number of lines 
of perforated standpipes to be placed there¬ 
in, and how would you be guided in mak¬ 
ing such determination? 

(b) What provision of law would you ex¬ 
pect the owner of a factory to obey in re¬ 
gard to stairways, if the building covered 
a lot area of 2,500 square feet? 

(c) In regard to the steps of such stair¬ 
ways. Explain reasons in full. 

3. An automobile garage owner wishes 
to instal a couple of gasolene storage 
tanks. What are the requirements of the 
Fire Department as to location and con¬ 
struction of the tanks with which he must 
comply so as to lessen the fire risk? 

4. Give the substance of the fire protec¬ 
tion clauses of the Building Code relating 
to: 

(1) Chimney support; 

(2) Dumbwaiter shafts; 

(3) Drying rooms. 

5. You are directed to make an inspection 
of a store in a tenement house which is to 
be used as a moving picture theater, with 
a view to ascertaining whether the proprie¬ 
tor has complied with all city ordinances 
and municipal regulations applicable to 
his business. State in detail what these 
ordinances and regulations require. 

6. What are the auxiliary fire appliances 
necessary for an L-shaped office building 
20 stories high? 

REPORT. 

Weight 2. 

Write a report addressed to the Munici¬ 
pal Civil Service Commission giving an 
account of the changes in general building 
construction and methods which have oc¬ 
curred in New York City since 1898, and 
of the changes and improvements in Fire 
Department methods which have been 
adopted in accordance. State also your 


ideas as to further improvements which 
might be made in view of such changed 
conditions. 

(N. B. 1:—In rating this report the prin¬ 
cipal consideration will be given to the 
knowledge of the subject displayed by the 
candidate, but consideration will be given 
also to the conciseness and clearness of 
the report itself. Elaborate discussions are 
not desired. Use enough words to express 
your ideas and no more.) 

(N. B. 2:—Do not sign any name, ficti¬ 
tious or otherwise, or any number to this 
report.) 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
DEPUTY CHIEF, 

In Charge of Marine Division, 

Fire Department. 

Date: March 17, 1909. 
ADMINISTRATION. 

1. State briefly, giving all important par¬ 
ticulars and your reasons, how you would 
act in each of the following cases: (a) A 
float laden with baled cotton is on fire 
about a quarter of a mile east of the Statute 
of Liberty; (b) A ferryboat is on fire in 
the slip foot of 42nd Street, North River. 

2. In case oF fire in the hold of a steam 
vessel loaded with hemp, state how you 
would proceed to extinguish it. State also 
how the construction of a vessel and the 
character of the cargo would necessitate 
different methods of fighting fire. Give ex¬ 
amples illustrating your answer. 

3. Assuming that there are four fire boats 
under your command, state exactly how 
you would act under the following circum¬ 
stances, giving your reasons: A fire breaks 
out at night among cotton bales at the end 
of Pier 35, North River. The fire has 
gained headway before the arrival of the 
fire boats. The wind is from the northwest. 

4. In the event of a great fire during the 
night at the House of Refuge, Randall’s 
Island, with the wind blowing from the 
north, how would you handle the fire boats 
under your control so as to save as much 
life and property as possible? 

5. State and explain in detail how, with 
fire boats and such other aid as you would 
consider necessary, you would combat a 
large conflagration which had started from 
the neighborhood of Greenwich and Frank¬ 
lin Streets, Manhattan, as a center, and was 
rapidly spreading. In answering, assume 
that the situation had become serious, and 
give reasons for whatever you would ad¬ 
vocate, if in command. 

RULES. 

1. What should be done with hose after 
being used at a fire and returned to quar¬ 
ters, if the hose be wet, damp or dirty? If 
any of the lengths of hose have burst, what 
should be done with them? 

2. (a) State in detail the arrangements 
made for coaling the fire boats; (b) What 


187 



improvements can you suggest in those ar¬ 
rangements? 

3. State fully all the steps you would take, 
as Deputy Chief, where loss of life or in¬ 
jury to property has occurred as the re¬ 
sult of accident at fires and explain the 
several reasons for this rule. 

4. Give your opinions as to the advan¬ 
tages or disadvantages which would result 
to the Fire Department if the position of 
Pilot was placed in the competitive class. 
State also whether, in your opinion, Pilots 
should be members of the uniformed force, 
and, if so, how they should be appointed, 
whether by original examination or by pro¬ 
motion. Give reasons for your answer. 

5. Give your opinion as to what changes 
in the rules may be advisable by reason 
of the establishment of the Marine Divi¬ 
sion? 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. What equipment to protect against 
fires is required of passenger steamers, and 
what penalties for neglect or violation 
thereof? 

2. In fog, mist, falling snow or heavy 
rainstorm, what are the signals to be given 
by 

(a) A steam vessel under way; 

(b) A sailing vessel under way; 

(c) A sailing vessel when at anchor; 

(d) A steam vessel when towing; 

(e) Rafts or smaller craft. 

3. Give your opinion as to the responsi¬ 
bility for the following collision, stating 
your reasons: 

A fire boat from the Battery is off the 
Erie Basin on its way to a fire at Bay 
Ridge. An incoming vessel headed for the 
Basin approaches at right angles and blows 
one blast of the whistle. The fire boat blows 
two blasts of the whistle and holds it 
course. The incoming vessel blows four 
blasts of the whistle and reverses her en¬ 
gine. The fire boat still held its course, and 
in attempting to cross the bow of the in¬ 
coming vessel collided with it. Would the 
fact that the fire boat is on its way to a 
fire have a bearing on the responsibility 
for the collision? 

4. Under what circumstances and condi¬ 
tions may a person be guilty of misde¬ 
meanor in causing fire or obstructing at¬ 
tempts to extinguish fires? 

5. Rule V, Section 25, of the Rules and 
Regulations of the United States Steam¬ 
boat Inspection Service states that there 
shall be a duly licensed Master on board 
every steam vessel of more than 100 gross 
tons whenever such steamer is under way. 
Explain why this rule is not enforced in 
the case of the Fire Department. Give your 
opinion as to the disadvantages or advan¬ 
tages which would result if the rule were 
enforced? 

REPORT. 

In a collision with a railroad float a fire 
boat is seriously damaged below the water 


line. Assuming such additional facts as 
you wish, write an official report, giving an 
account of the damage and the estimated 
cost of repairs. 

(N. B. 1:— In rating this report the prin¬ 
cipal consideration will be given to the 
technical knowledge of the candidate.) 

(N. B. 2:—Sign this report with the name, 
Richard Roe, Deputy Chief in Charge of 
the Marine Division.) 


New Jersey Civil Service Com’n. 

DEPUTY CHIEF. 

Newark Fire Department. 

Subjects of examination and relative 
weights. 

Experience, record and physical and per¬ 
sonal fitness, 10; administration (questions 
on the methods of fighting fires, use of ap¬ 
paratus, etc., 4; laws and ordinances relat¬ 
ing to the Fire Department, 2; departmental 
rules and regulations, 2; written report 
(subjects to be designated at the time of 
examination), 2. 

EXPERIENCE. 

This will cover a general examination on 
the past experience and education of the 
applicant. 

PERSONALITY. 

Candidates were submitted to an exam¬ 
ination to test their personal fitness for the 
position, and were given oral questions to 
demonstrate their quickness of intelligence, 
breadth of view of the work to be under¬ 
taken and their personal point of view with 
relation to the more important features of 
the work. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

1. There is a third alarm, fire originated 

on the fourth floor of the six-story build¬ 
ing indicated on accompanying sketch, and 
you are Acting Deputy Chief. The follow¬ 
ing apparatus responds on the several 
alarms: First alarm, four engines, two 

trucks, two Battalion Chiefs; second alarm, 
four engines, a Deputy Chief (yourself), 
one Battalion Chief and the water tower; 
third alarm, four engines, one truck, one 
Battalion Chief. On your arrival you find 
the first alarm engines at hydrants “F,” 
“G, ’ “H,” and “J.” What orders would 
you give regarding first alarm apparatus 
and that which subsequently responds? 
State at which hydrant you would locate 
each of the 12 engines, and the disposition 
of the hose lines from each. State where 
you would locate the water tower and how 
supply it with water. 

2. Describe the various kinds of hook and 
ladder trucks, steam fire engines, hose 
wagons and water towers in use in the 
Fire Department. Tell how they are oper- 


188 




ated, give their peculiarities of construction, 
and state what tools, implements and de¬ 
vices are carried on each kind of appa¬ 
ratus. 

3. What would you do under the follow¬ 
ing conditions: 

(a) In case of a third alarm of fire in 
the high-pressure district, and all com¬ 
panies which have responded are working, 
and the high pressure fails? 

(b) In case a carboy of nitric or sul¬ 
phuric acid should become broken or con¬ 
tents spilled on floor and a number of men 
were overcome from the fumes of the same, 
and there was no physician within fire 
lines? 

(c) In case the insulation of an electric 
wire was burning off, how would you pro¬ 
ceed to extinguish it? 

4. Describe an automatic sprinkler sys¬ 
tem. Explain how it operates. How are 
they supplied with water, and under what 
conditions would you order Company Com¬ 
manders to connect to such a system? 

5. A fire originates on the first floor of 
a building 50 feet wide by 100 feet deep, on 
the west side of Broad Street, between 
Market and William Streets, and, on your 
arrival, it has extended throughout the 
building, and from indications has been 
burning for some time. The building is 
provided with but one stairway and has 
iron shutters in the rear, and is stocked 
with paper. What would you do, and how 
would you manage such a fire? 

6. Give the locations of the high-pressure 
mains; the size of the supply mains; where 
the supply is obtained; number and size 
of outlets on each hydrant; how hydrant is 
operated. 

7. Assume a fire involving the entire 
tenth story of the Fireman’s Building. 
How many and what size streams would 
you undertake to use; how many engines 
would it take to supply them, and at what 
pressure at an engine pumping through 300 
feet of hose into the standpipe? Give your 
reasons. 

REPORT. 

Write a report of not less than two hun¬ 
dred words to the State Civil Service Com¬ 
mission, giving an account of the changes 
in general building construction and meth¬ 
ods which have occurred in Newark since 
1898, and of the changes and improvements 
in Fire Department methods which have 
been adopted in accordance therewith. 
State also your ideas as to further improve¬ 
ments which might be made in view of such 
changed conditions. . 

N. B.:—In rating this report the principal 
consideration will be given to the knowl¬ 
edge of the subject displayed by the candi¬ 
date, but consideration will be given also to 
the conciseness and clearness of the report 
itself. Elaborate discussions are not de¬ 
sired. Use enough words to express your 
ideas and no more. 

N. B.:—Do not sign any name, fictitious 
or otherwise, to this report, other than your 
examination number. 


RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. In what way do the instructions to 
companies located in districts covered by 
the high-pressure system differ from the in¬ 
struction to companies outside such dis¬ 
tricts? State briefly the substance of addi¬ 
tions or amendments to the rules, if any, 
in your opinion, necessary in connection 
with high-pressure system. 

2. Give the regulation for the use of the 
different sized hose and the reasons there¬ 
for. 

3. When a Chief of Battalion receives no¬ 
tice that permits for blasting operations 
have been issued by the Bureau of Com¬ 
bustibles in his battalion district, what, in 
detail, are the precautions he should take 
to protect and safeguard life and property 
in the vicinity where the explosives are to 
be used? 

4. At a large working fire at which many 
Firemen are overcome by smoke, one Fire¬ 
man is guilty of cowardice. He inflicts a 
superficial wound on his forehead, and, 
when it is bleeding profusely, he shams 
prostration and induces a policeman to send 
him to a hospital. You discover the facts 
before the ambulance drives away, but the 
policeman insists that the Fireman is too 
sick a man to remain at the fire, (a) What 
action would you take at the time? (b) 
What action would you take upon return¬ 
ing to quarters? Give your reasons in each 
case. 

5. When making a general inspection of 
your district, what examination, as Deputy 
Chief, would you conduct in order to ascer¬ 
tain if the following were in fit condition 
for fire purposes: 

(a) Apparatus and horses; 

(b) Water tower; 

(c) Fuel wagon and fuel supplies? 

6. Give the substance of the various pro¬ 
visions relating to the inspection, by the 
Fire Department, to prevent fire and panic, 
and the various reports to be made on the 
same, in the following classes: 

(a) Moving picture establishments; 

(b) Theaters; 

(c) School buildings. 

7. State the principal rules and regula¬ 
tions concerning the use and care of the 
horses belonging to the Department. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

1. (a) Who has the authority to order 
the destruction of buildings in case of fire? 
(b) Under what circumstances may he ex¬ 
ercise it? (c) What redress have the 

owners? . 

2. Explain fully the mutual relations ex¬ 
isting between the Fire and Police Depart- 

ments. , , . 

3 (a) How may a member of the uni¬ 
formed force be disciplined? (b) For what 
offense? (c) What officer has jurisdiction? 

(d) How are the rights of the accused 
safeguarded? 

4 A fire of suspicious origin occurs in a 
4-story celluloid factory, resulting in the 


189 


total destruction of the building and in a 
great loss of life. There were no fire es¬ 
capes on the front of the building, and the 
windows on the second floor rear were 
barred by steel. There is no doubt that 
the casualties are due to the presence of 
the iron bars on the windows and to the ab¬ 
sence of fire escapes on the front of the 
building. What officials or official bodies 
would be concerned in a thorough investi¬ 
gation conducted for the purpose of fixing 
the responsibility for the disaster, and the 
official or official bodies that would conduct 
such an investigation, giving reasons in full 
for your answers. 

5. (a) In a building used for manufac¬ 
turing or business purposes, what provision 
is made for regulating the number of lines 
of perforated standpipes to be placed there¬ 
in, and how would you be guided in making 
such determination? (b) What provision 
of law would you expect the owner of a 
factory to obey in regard to stairways, if 
the building covered a lot area of 2,500 
square feet? (c) In regard to the steps of 
such stairways? Explain reasons in full for 
dimensions, arrangement and material. 

6. (a) An automobile garage owner 
wishes to install a couple of gasoline stor¬ 
age tanks. What are the requirements of 
the Bureau of Combustibles of the Fire De¬ 
partment as to location and construction 
of the tanks with which he must comply so 
as to lessen the fire risks? (b) What are the 
garage regulations as found in the Fire 
Prevention Code? (c) What are the city 
ordinances relating to “dry cleaning”? (d) 
Is it lawful to clean clothes with gasoline in 
a dwelling house? 

7. Give the substance of the fire protec¬ 
tion clauses of the Building Code relating 
to 

(1) Chimney supports; 

(2) Dumbwaiter shafts; 

(3) Drying rooms. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

CHIEF OF CONSTRUCTION AND 
REPAIRS. 

Fire Department. 

(Promotion.) 

Duties. 

Weight 6. 

Date: April 15, 1912. 

(To be finished by 1 P. M.) 

(NOTE:—Lengthy discussions are not 
required. Brief, concise, relevant answers 
are expected.) 

1. How would you proceed to the repair 
of a tubular boiler of the La France type 
just to prevent rebuckling of the crown 


sheet? What is the difference in the metal 
used for the jacket, the tubes and the crown 
sheet? 

2. A water tower has swung against an 
elevated railroad pillar; shears and leader 
were bent, pumps broken, and an axle bent. 
What is done to put it into commission 
again? 

3. A 5-inch valve for a water tower has 
been frozen and cracked. What ingredients 
are used to cast it in the shops? How is 
the case made? What material is used for 
the pump cages of the fireboat New Yorker 
(Clapp & Jones pump)? What material for 
castings for couplings? Also, for spring 
hangers? State the proportions of mix¬ 
tures. 

4. What machine tools are required on 
the machine floor to do the various lines 
of repair needed by a modern Fire Depart¬ 
ment plant, to do all of its own repairing? 

5. The double-gear pin of a controlling 
nozzle is to be duplicated. What machines 
are needed to turn the stock, to slot it, to 
cut threads, etc.? What means or devices 
would you provide for preserving standard 
threads and diameter for hose couplings? 

6. Mention all the tests to which hose are 
subjected before accepted. What specifica¬ 
tions do the Fire Department demand? 

7. State very briefly what system you 
would adopt to check up or be able to check 
up the shelf supplies at any time on short 
notice. Indicate, if you prefer, by a simple 
system of cards. 

8. An engine comes in for repairs with 
the complaint, or report, of a Company 
Commander; what steps do you take before 
assigning the job? What is done after the 
job is supposed to have been completed? 

(To be finished by 4 P. M.) 

9. Submit your ideas, in brief, for the 
most effective test, or tests, to be applied 
in checking up new apparatus at the repair 
shop. 

10. 11 and 12. As Chief of Construction, 
you become a member of the Apparatus 
Board. It is required to draw up specifica- 
t i,° nS c^° r seven pi eces of new apparatus in 
the five boroughs. What special features 
would you recommend in such apparatus 
for the congested parts of Manhattan, and 
what for the outlying districts of Brooklyn, 
Richmond and Queens? Why? 

cas ting 18 inches long, 6 inches out¬ 
side diameter, and 4 inches inside diameter. 
With brass weighing 450 pounds per cubic 
foot, what should be the weight of the cast¬ 
ing? 

14 Assuming that, in the near future, a 
gasolene motor will be used for driving fire 
pumps, what style of pump, in your opinion, 
is the best recommended for adoption? 
Why? 

15. Where should the spark and throttle 
levers be placed for auto driving apparatus? 
How, do you think, should the speeds be 
controlled? How, the gasolene tanks 
equipped? How, the several gears distin¬ 
guished? 


190 



EXPERIENCE. 

Weight 4. 

(To be finished by 5 P. M.) 

1. State your age and length of residence 

in the city. 

2. Give brief account of your education 
with dates. 

3. Have you taken a trade school or cor¬ 
respondence school course? If so, where 
and when? 

4. State your experience as a machinist, 
giving dates, places employed, duties per¬ 
formed and title of position, whether ap¬ 
prentice, journeyman, boss, foreman, etc. 

5. Have you any license as steam or 
marine engineer? If so, state grade, date, 
etc. 

6. What experience have you had in ma¬ 
chine work or repairs in the Fire Depart¬ 
ment, or other city service? 

7. State any other experience you have 
had, not enumerated above, that tends to 
qualify you for the position. 

8. What technical or trade journals do 
you read? 

9. Name at least three persons, with ad¬ 
dresses, who can verify these statements. 


Civil Service Commission of San Francisco. 

PROMOTION BATTALION CHIEF TO 
ASST. CHIEF ENGINEER. 

Fire Department. 

Date: July 23, 1913. 


GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF DUTIES. 

Part One— Fire Prevention. 

(NOTE:—The figures in parentheses after 
the questions show the weights of those ques¬ 
tions.) 

Q. 1. As an Assistant Chief you are asked to 
suggest certain preventative measures against 
loss by fire in dwelling houses. Name six 
common causes of fire in such dwellings and 
the preventative means you recommended in 
each case. (6) 

Q. 2. You are requested to appear before 
an improvement club in a residential district 
to give advice to its members as to the best 
manner of treating a fire in its incipient stage 
by the occupants of the dwelling pending the 
arrival of the Fire Department. What advice 
did you give? (5) 

Q. 3. A committee from a business men’s 
association calls upon you and asks for sug¬ 
gestions regarding the most needed improve¬ 
ments to lessen the danger of fires in mercan¬ 
tile districts. What did you suggest and what 
were your reasons? (5) 

Q 4. State what matters of construction and 
equipment should be attended to by the own¬ 


ers of large factories in order to reduce the 
fire hazard and prevent loss of life? (5) 

Q. 5. What precautions should be observed 
in the construction of elevator shafts in large 
buildings so as to prevent the spread of flames? 

(3) 

Q. 6. What would you recommend to pre¬ 
vent loss of life from fire and panic in schools, 
factories and places of amusement where large 
numbers of persons assemble? (6) 

Q. 7. (a) What provisions have been made 
by the Fire Department for protecting the 
waterfront and the shipping interests from 
fire? (b) What improvements would you rec¬ 
ommend? (5) 

Q. 8. What are the requirements of the 
building law regarding: (a) Dry standpipes? 
(b) Wet standpipes? (c) Water supplies to 
wet standpipes? (10) 

Q. 9. What are requirements of the Build¬ 
ing Law regarding: (a) Use of elevators for 
fire service? (b) Auxiliary fire appliances for 
buildings over 100 feet in height? (5) 

Part Two : —Inspection. 

Q. 1. What general knowledge or informa¬ 
tion should an Assistant Chief possess con¬ 
cerning his district? Name ten important mat¬ 
ters upon which he should be informed. Does 
this information assist him in coping with a 
fire, and why? (5) 

Q. 2. While on a tour of inspection you 
inspected a frame building located within 100 
feet of a public school. The building was five 
stories high and was fitted with a fire escape 
running from the floor of the fifth story 
to the floor of the second story. The ground 
floor was used as a public garage and the four 
upper stories were used as a rooming house. 
In the basement were stored 2,000 gallons of 
gasoline. State what city ordinances were vio¬ 
lated and in what manner? (5) 

Q 3. Name five hazardous liquids, and ex¬ 
plain what the city ordinances require as to 
how they should be stored and in what quan¬ 
tities. (5) 

Q. 4. State the provisions, of the city ordi¬ 
nances relating to the quantities and places in 
which the following may be stored : (a) Dyna¬ 
mite ; (b) Nitroglycerine; (c) Gunpowder; 

(d) Giant Powder (5) 

Q 5. State in detail the provisions of the 
city ordinances providing for the protection 
of life and property from fire in a building 
such as the Palace Hotel. (5) 

Part Three—Fire Fighting. 

Q 1 (a) What is the best method of fight¬ 
ing fires in the holds of ships, without serious 
injury to the cargoes? (b) How would you 
fight a fire in a basement filled with oil, and 
what precautions should you take. (5) 

Q. 2. (a) How would you fight a fire in a 
cold-storage warehouse, and what precautions 


191 






would you take, if any? (b) How would you 
fight a fire on the twelfth floor of a 14-story 
building? (5) 

Q. 3. A fire occurs in a 7-story building on 
the south side of Market Street between First 
and Second Streets. There is a 16-foot alley 
in the rear and high voltage wires in the street. 
How would you handle your men and appa¬ 
ratus to the best advantage? (5) 

Q. 4. If the Fire Alarm Headquarters was 
destroyed by fire, what orders would you issue 
to provide an emergency fire alarm system 
and protect the city? If such accident oc¬ 
curred at the time of a bad fire and you wanted 
second and third alarm assignments, how 
would you obtain them? (5) 

Q. 5. First and second alarms were sent in 
from each of the following boxes: (a) Box 

211, located at Post and Fillmore Streets; (b) 
Box 262, located at Second and Folsom 
Streets; (c) Box 141, located at Seventeenth 
and Valencia Streets. State in each case what 
apparatus responded to the first alarm and 
what apparatus responded to the second alarm. 
( 5 ) 

WRITING OF REPORTS. 

NOTICE:—-Do not sign these reports with 
your name, initials or address, or with any 
assumed name, initials or address. Any iden¬ 
tification marks will exclude your entire exam¬ 
ination papers. 

Report No. 1.—The Board of Directors of 
the Panama-Pacific International Exposition 
Company has requested the Fire Commission 
to recommend a plan for the protection of life 
and property from fire at the Panama-Pacific 
International Exposition. You have been di¬ 
rected by the Fire Commission to prepare such 
a plan. 

The Exposition grounds will cover about 
five or six hundred acres and will front on the 
bay. It will contain about ten large exhibit 
buildings and numerous County, State and na¬ 
tional buildings. 


Write a report to the Fire Commission, stat¬ 
ing in detail your ideas for this plan. (25) 

Report No. 2.—While on a tour of inspection 
you found fifteen reinforced concrete fire cis¬ 
terns leaking and twenty-five high-pressure hy¬ 
drants out of order. 

Write a report to the Chief Engineer of the 
Fire Department stating the location of each 
of these cisterns and hydrants and the prob¬ 
able cause of the damage. (25) 

Report No. 3.—Write a report to the Chief 
Engineer containing your opinion as to the 
present status of the following and give your 
ideas as to how improvements can be made: 
(a) Fire fighting apparatus, including fire- 
boats; (b) Automatic signal gongs for warn¬ 
ing traffic of approach of fire apparatus; (c) 
Fire alarm boxes; (d) Discipline. (25) 

ARITHMETIC. 

(Five questions at 20 credits each.) 

Q. 1. A city has 36 companies in its Fire 
Department. If each company has 12 men and 
the average salary of each man is $1,320 a year, 
what would be the total amount paid out in 
salaries in one year? 

Q. 2. A floor 28 feet by 40 feet carries a total 
load of 157,500 pounds. How many pounds per 
square foot does it carry? 

Q. 3. A store valued at $15,000 was insured 
for 75 per cent, of its value. What is that 
man’s share of the insurance who owns one- 
fourth of the store? 

Q. 4. If 165 pieces of motor-driven appa¬ 
ratus cost $1,485,000, what will 85 pieces cost? 

Q. 5. You have ordered the following items 
for the use of the Fire Department; what is 
the total cost? 

39 tons of hay at $15.75 per ton; 322 bushels 
of oats at 65c per bushel; 850 tons of coal at 
$8.75 per ton; 4,000 feet of hose at 93c per 
foot; 410 gallons of oil at 16J^c per gallon. 


192 


CHIEF 


Answers to Examination Questions and Specimen Ques¬ 
tions, New York City and Philadelphia. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
PROMOTION TO CHIEF. 

Fire Department. 

Date: July 10 and 11, 1911. 

NOTE:—This is the examination iv 9 
which John Kenlon, now Chief of Depart¬ 
ment, attained the position of No. 1 on the 
list. Two sets of answers are here pub¬ 
lished. One is by Deputy Chief Patrick 
Maher, and the other is by the Deputy 
Chief who attained No. 3 on the list. 

Chief Kenlon’s percentages were: Ad¬ 
ministration, 91.00; Laws and Ordinances, 
81.00; Rules and Regulations, 80.00; Re¬ 
port, 82.00; mental average, 86.917; Record 
and Seniority, 83.25; Final Average, 85.084. 

The percentages of No. 3 on the list were 
as follows: Administration, 77.00; Laws and 
Ordinances, 86.00; Rules and Regulations, 
90.00; Report, 97.00; Mental Average, 
82.918; Record and Seniority, 85.50; Final 
Average, 84.209. 

ANSWERS BY DEPUTY CHIEF PAT¬ 
RICK MAHER. 

In Charge of 11th Division, New York Fire 
Dept. 

Date: July 10, 1911. 

ADMINISTRATION—Weight 7. 

(Received 71% on this subject.) 

(Candidates may make sketches to ex¬ 
plain their answers if they deem them nec¬ 
essary.) 

Ques. 1:—You are at a second alarm fire 
at 9th Avenue and 34th Street (Station 435); 
a first alarm is pulled for Station 413, fol¬ 
lowed immediately by a fourth alarm. You 
respond and find a fire in the lumber yard 
shown on sketch; a high wind is blowing 
in the direction shown on the map, the lum¬ 
ber yard is completely involved and the fire 
has entered the third and fourth floors of 
the building to the east, where it is burning 
fiercely and beyond control of the apparatus 
on hand. 

This is an 8-story, basement and sub¬ 
basement, semi-fireproof building, used as a 
piano factory; it has fire escapes on the 
north and south; it is provided with a stand¬ 
pipe and a complete system of automatic 
sprinklers on all floors. Elevator wells are 
not inclosed. . 

State what commands you would give, in 
their order, and what additional alarms you 


would send in, using the accompanying map 
and assignment cards as a guide, and indi¬ 
cate on the map the location of the engine 
of each company and state what use would 
be made of other apparatus, and what lines 
would be laid, giving length, to what they 
would connect, size of nozzles used and ap¬ 
proximate pressures at pumps. State in 
what way you would keep in touch with the 
first fire. 

ANS.:—The conditions of the question 
show that all the Engine companies which 
respond to Station 413 on first alarm are at 
the first fire (Station 435) and one Truck 
company, No. 21, and three of the five En¬ 
gine companies and one Truck company 
due on the second alarm are also at the first 
fire, and Water Tower No. 3 is there also. 

I would have 12 Engine and 3 Hook and 
Ladder companies left. I presume that the 
sprinklers have opened to a great extent on 
the third and fourth floors (the ones on 
fire) and on the floor or floors above, and 
would put my first two companies into the 
sprinkler connection on the outside. These 
companies would be Engines 14 and 16. 
Stretch the next line Engine 18 up the stair¬ 
way, as the fire is on the third floor. Quick¬ 
er time could be made than using the stand¬ 
pipes. Follow this line up with Engine 24, 
the next company, Engine 21 and 65 to 
cover tenement on south side of fire; En¬ 
gine 30 and 23 north side of the fire, 25 up 
the north fire escape, 13 up the south fire 
escape, 8 and 40 into tenements on the 
East. 

In the meantime I would have sent a fifth 
alarm from Station 371 and a special call for 
Water Tower No. 2. 

The 5th alarm would bring, in addition 
to the companies present, Engines 5, 27, 20, 
28, 31, 55, 7; Fire Boats 57, 77, 85 and 86 
and 3, 5 and 7. ..... 

The fifth alarm would bring, in addition 
to the companies present, Engines 5, 27, 
20, 28, 31, 55, 7; Fire Boats 57, 77, 85 and 
86 and 3, 5 and 7. 

As the boats came in I would have men 
down with hose wagons to meet them and 
stretch two 3^-inch lines from each boat, 
by fastening butts to hind axle of wagons, 
and let horses pull lines up, using boats, 
crews and drivers, etc., to light up, and see 
that no undue strain is placed on the hose. 
I would use some of these lines with street 
pipes or pipe-holders with 2-inch nozzles, 
and others divided into two lines by means 
of two-way gate, with 1/4-inch nozzles. 
Lines from Boat 85 on south side of the 
fire, two lines 2-inch nozzles; Engine 86 on 
north side, two lines divided into 4 with 
1^4-inch nozzles. Boat 57 into Water 


193 




Tower. Boat 77 into deck-pipe of the Tow¬ 
er. 

The additional Engines responding on the 
fifth alarm, namely, Engines 5, 27, 20, 28, 31, 
55 and 7, would be used to best advantage 
as conditions called for, or, if not required, 
ordered to quarters. 

In placing any of these companies to work 
I would stretch from high-pressure hydrants 
on 23rd Street, running 4 lines from each; 
or if I found shortage of water with any of 
the companies on gravity system, change 
to the high-pressure system. 

Use the Hook and Ladder companies to 
open up and assist stretching, and take ad¬ 
ditional lines from high-pressure. 

Ques. 2:—(a) What is the full capacity 
in gallons per minute at maximum pressure 
of each of the High Pressure Systems in 
Manhattan, Brooklyn and Coney Island? 

(b) May this capacity be exceeded in any 
of the systems? Under what conditions, 
and approximately how much? 

(c) Give for each system the total num¬ 
ber of streams that could be used if the 
full capacity of the system were required. 
(Assume actual fire conditions where 1*4, 
V/ 2 and 2-inch nozzles are used, with effec¬ 
tive streams from each, and some of each 
size nozzle is in use.) Also give the ap¬ 
proximate discharge of each size of noz¬ 
zle. 

(d) What would be the result if an at¬ 
tempt were made to use more than this 
number of streams, and in this case what ac¬ 
tion would you order in each of the systems 
named? 

ANS.:—(a) 

Gansevoort St.15,000 gals, per min. 

Oliver St.15,000 gals, per min. 

Jeroloman St.15,000 gals, per min. 

St. Edwards St. 9,000 gals, per min. 

Coney Island . 4,500 gals, per min. 

(b) In Manhattan and Brooklyn this can 
be exceeded considerably, but not at Coney 
Island. The excess would be about 1,000 
gallons per unit at extreme pressure. Would 
only be required in extreme cases. 

(c) The discharge in gallons for a 2-inch 
nozzle at 300 lbs. would be about 2,138 gal¬ 
lons; 1*4, 1,202, and 1%, 835, if all 2-inch 
nozzles were used. In Manhattan 14 lines, 
if all 154 were used at same Borough and 
pressure 36 + could be used. 

For Coney Island at 150 lbs. pressure and 
1% nozzles, the discharge would be 558 
gallons. Would be about 9 lines. If other 
outlets were opened the supply and pres¬ 
sure would diminish; a lack of supply and 
pressure would occur at the fire. 

(d) After calling the pumping station and 
finding they are giving the full pressure, 
send out men to close hydrants opened by 
unauthorized persons. 

Ques. 3:—(a) A fire or explosion in Fire 
Headquarters destroys the Fire Alarm 
Headquarters. As Chief of Department, 
what orders would you issue to provide 


emergency fire alarm service and protect 
the city? 

(b) If such an accident occurred at time 
of a bad fire and you wanted third and 
fourth alarm assignments, how would you 
obtain them? 

ANS.:—(a) Make judicious use of the 
telephone system and establish a patrol sys¬ 
tem. 

(b) Obtain companies in the same way by 
calling nearest numbers to the companies 
desired, or send automobiles to notify them 
or both. 

Ques. 4:—(a) State the advantages to be 
derived by the Fire Department from in¬ 
spections of buildings. 

(b) What special fire appliances are found 
in buildings? State their use and value, and 
what use should be made of them by the 
Fire Department. 

(c) What special appliances are provided 
to enable fires or persons to be reached 
where smoke or deadly gases are present? 
In what kind of building are they needed 
and on what principle do they work? 

ANS.:—(a) The officers become familiar 
with the conditions and materials in the 
buildings and are thereby prepared to take 
proper precautions and action when fires 
occur. 

(b) The appliances are standpipes, hose, 
sprinklers, axes, hooks, extinguishers, pails 
of water and sand. 

Standpipes should be used to convey wa¬ 
ter to upper floors, thereby saving carrying 
up hose to high buildings and saving 
friction, and giving ample delivery. Should 
be used when fire is above 3rd floor. 

Sprinklers are ever watchful for fire and 
start as soon as the heat is sufficient to melt 
the fusible lever. They should be hooked 
into if a fire shows any headway; otherwise 
use a stream judiciously. 

(c) Vagen Bader Smoke Masks are used 
where heavy smoke or dangerous gases are 
present. They are used where ammonia, 
nitric or sulphuric acid escapes, usually in 
cold storage plants, drug houses, breweries, 
etc. 

They carry a tank of compressed air 
which feeds inside of the mask and sup¬ 
plies the wearer for about a half hour. 

In order to be used effectively they should 
be tight around the neck so as to keep the 
air in and the gases out. 

Ques. 5:—(a) Describe the various fea¬ 
tures of the different types of automatic 
sprinkler equipments. 

(b) In buildings used for what purposes 
are automatic sprinklers especially desir¬ 
able? 

(c) What are the different methods of 
furnishing water supply to such equipments? 

(d) Would connections to sprinkler sys¬ 
tems direct to the mains of the High Pres¬ 
sure System be advisable? Give reasons. 

ANS.:—(a) The different features of au¬ 
tomatic sprinklers are “Wet” and “Dry” 
systems. The wet system comprises a sys¬ 
tem of piping covering the ceilings, shafts, 


194 







closets, and in fact everywhere that a fire is 
liable to start. These pipes are fed from 
headers running at right angles to the 
sprinkler pipes, and these headers in turn 
connected to the tank, which should be 
placed as high as possible above the high¬ 
est sprinklers for the purpose of giving 
proper head or pressure to the flow of water 
when released. This feature has a decided 
advantage, as if 1 or 2 sprinklers open and 
there is a proper flow, the fire will be 
quickly extinguished before the heat has 
an opportunity to open others distant from 
the fire. 

The sprinkler heads are placed usually 8 
or 10 feet apart and rows staggered. 

A sprinkler head unpainted would show 
that it was intended to fuse at about 160°. 
White, 185; Red, 285; Blue, 360, and Black 
that it is placed in a place where a special 
kind is required on account of acid, vapors, 
etc., which cause corrosion. 

The source of supply (the tank) should 
be large enough to supply a large number 
of the sprinklers for a considerable length 
of time and should be properly placed and 
cared for by being kept filled and free from 
freezing in winter time. See that checks 
are facing right and in good order. See that 
valves under tank are not closed and that 
there is a proper device for showing if that 
is the fact. 

The tank should have at least two sources 
of supply, namely, pump, City pressure and 
Siamese for Fire Department, so that when 
the water strikes the distributing plate it 
covers a circle about 4 feet each way and 
overlaps the next one. 

The heads consist of a device where, when 
a certain temperature is reached, a small 
solder joint on two levers is melted, which 
allows these parts to fall out with the pres¬ 
sure of the water, and the water from the 
pipe flows out, striking a dash plate which 
splashes it around in a circle. No pipe 
should be used smaller than 24-inch, and 
larger ones are better. 

In placing the heads, they should face up. 
This keeps sediment from lodging in them 
and saves them from injury from moving 
furniture, etc. 

They are fused at different temperatures, 
according to requirements, and are painted 
or colored accordingly. 

A Wet Sprinkler System is practically 
the same as the foregoing, except that on 
account of the pipes and sprinkler heads 
being placed in cold floors and cold places 
they would freeze and burst. To overcome 
this a valve is placed in the supply pipe, 
usually in the engine room or some warm 
place, and a sufficient air-pressure kept on 
the house side by means of an automatic 
air-pump to keep it sealed and prevent the 
water flowing into the cold places. 

When a fire occurs and the heads release, 
this air is released, the valve opens and the 
water flows through. This system is rnore 
complicated and unreliable than the Wet 
System, but is very useful where Wet 
Sprinklers could not be maintained. 

There are also systems of outside perfor¬ 


ated pipes or water curtains around roofs, 
windows, etc., which are usually operated 
by hand; also perforated lines in cellars and 
sub-cellars, but these are not being installed 
any more, as the large sprinkler heads are 
better, for the reason that they act automat¬ 
ically and keep the water where it is wanted 
and don’t spoil merchandise in other parts 
of cellars. 

(b) They can be used in almost all classes 
of manufacture and storage, and are ob¬ 
ligatory by law in theaters, places having 
more than 20 tons of vegetable fiber and 
where retail fireworks are sold. 

The Commissioner is also authorized to 
order them installed wherever he thinks 
they are necessary. 

(c) Tank, pump, City pressure and Fire 
Engine connections on outside. 

(d) There is a doubt in my mind whether 
it would be wise to connect to the High- 
Pressure, on account of the extreme pres¬ 
sure that the heads would meet with, which 
might blow them out and cause big dam¬ 
age where not necessary. 

One of the experts whom I consulted re¬ 
cently informed me that the heads would 
safely stand 250 lbs. pressure. If that is so, 
a direct connection with a valve on the 
outside controlled only by the engineer of 
the plant or members of the Fire Depart¬ 
ment would be a good thing. 

Ques. 6:—(a) Describe the different meth¬ 
ods by which automobile apparatus is self- 
propelled, and state the advantages of each. 

(b) Give the advantages of automobile ap¬ 
paratus over horse-drawn. 

(c) In what parts of the city and why, is 
automobile apparatus best suited? 

(d) Give the essential requirements for 
an automobile fire engine. 

(e) What essential requirements would 
you call for as to pumps, engines, speed and 
draft for any new fire-boats? 

ANS.:—(a) The different methods for 
propelling apparatus in the Fire Department 
are by a gasolene motor 4-cylinder, 4-cycle, 
and of sufficient horse power to propel the 
apparatus 30 miles an hour; to be fitted with 
two ignition systems, namely, low-tension 
magneto, and high-tension jump spark. 

This covers the different automobile hose 
wagons. 

Engine Co. 58, the latest engine, is com¬ 
posed of a 2nd class fire engine, boiler and 
pump, connected to a 4-cylinder, 4-cycle, 
110-horse motor. 

Water Tower No. 1 is propelled by what 
is termed the couple-gear motor. The mo¬ 
tor is an ordinary 4-cylinder, 4-cycle motor, 
and when started turns up an electrical gen¬ 
erator of about 24 kilowatts. This current 
can be supplied to motors in each wheel at 
the will of the operator, causing them to run 
slow or fast, backwards or frontwards, and 
as the motor is in the center of the wheel 
and the axis of the motor works by cogs 
on the rim of the wheel, one pulling and the 
other pushing, it seems to be an ideal motor 
for propelling heavy apparatus. 

A recent test of a gasolene-propelled mo- 


195 


tor and pump at the Repair Shops did not 
give the best results with the pump. 

I am of the opinion, though, that in a 
short time a good reciprocating pump will 
be run by gasolene. 

I find from reports that rotary gasolene- 
driven pumps do not give good results. 

(b) Automobile-propelled apparatus are 
more economical than horses, are faster and 
can be run in hot or cold weather without 
fear that they will collapse on long runs, 
and they have no heart or soul which the 
operator will fret over when going up or 
down grade like the poor old horses. They 
require no feed, bedding or shoeing when 
not working, and when filled with gasolene, 
oil and water are ready in a moment or a 
month hence. 

They are the ideal method of getting to 
fires, from Chiefs’ cars all the way through. 

(c) They work to better advantage in the 
suburbs, where the runs are long and roads 
clear. 

(d) It should be simple to operate, be 
able to travel from a very slow speed up to 
30 miles per hour. Should be able to pump 
at least 700 gallons per minute at a short 
pressure of 150 lbs. Turning in streets is 
another feature to be looked for. 

(e) The qualifications for a new Fire 
Boat will greatly depend on the location she 
is to occupy. 

For a large boat, the pumps should be as 
powerful as possible; 4 sets, 3,500 gallons 
each, or new style turbine pumps, 800 horse¬ 
power, and capable of delivering 11,000 gal¬ 
lons at 125; 9,000 at 150, or when both pumps 
are hooked together working 4-stage, 3,500 
gallons at 300 lbs. These are the pumps in 
the latest Fire Boats. 

Main engines should be either compound 
or triple-expansion, steam-steering and hav¬ 
ing ample condenser surface for proper cool¬ 
ing. 

Should have Babcock & Wilcox boilers of 
sufficient heating surface to show about 800 
horse-power and give pressure of 250 lbs. 

Speed about 12 knots. 

Drafts as low as can be kept. 

If the boat was for the Harlem River, 
Rockaway Creek or other places where 
shoal water is usually encountered, reduce 
hull, main engine have 2 sets of pumps, and 
as flat a bottom as possible. 

Ques. 7:—(a) What are the most impor¬ 
tant points to be considered in the location 
and equipment of fire stations? 

(b) As Chief of Department, what would 
you recommend as the most needed im¬ 
provements to lessen the danger of serious 
fires spreading in congested mercantile dis¬ 
tricts and in frame residential districts? Give 
reasons. 

(c) What would you recommend to pre¬ 
vent the loss of life in such fires as the Asch 
Building? 

(d) In what way could the usefulness of 
the water tower be increased? 

(e) How near to the building should a 
water tower be placed to do effective work 
on the sixth floor, building being 100 feet 


deep, the tower extended 60 feet, using a 
2-inch nozzle and fed by two second size 
engines through four lines of 254 -inch hose, 
each 300 feet long? What pressure would 
be carried on the engine and approximately 
what discharge would be obtained? 

ANS.:—(a) The location of a fire station 
is called for when sections of the commun¬ 
ity grow to such an extent that they require 
fire protection and that the property will 
bear an assessment sufficient to pay for it. 

It should be placed on the highest point 
of the territory to be protected and as cen¬ 
trally as possible. Should be on a well 
paved street, not on but near a car track. 

The equipment should suit the neighbor¬ 
hood. If in a mercantile district, large ap¬ 
paratus hose and necessary tools. In a resi¬ 
dential district, second or third class engine, 
2}4 or 1^-inch hose, with the necessary 
tools to handle the work encountered. 

Unnecessary tools should not be fur¬ 
nished or carried, such as cellar pipes, etc., 
in suburban companies. 

(b) Keep premises free from rubbish, etc. 
Have stand pipes, hose sprinklers, etc., in 
mercantile houses and extend the high pres¬ 
sure system throughout such neighborhood. 

(c) In such buildings of large floor area 
have a fire wall in the center running from 
back to front, with swinging fire doors at 
intervals, so if there was a fire on either 
side the occupants could run to the other 
side. 

Also have a tower fire escape on each 
side, said tower to consist of a brick shaft 
with no openings except from a balcony on 
the outside windows, open down to the floor 
leading from floors to balcony. Said doors 
to open out and doors in tower, if any, to 
open in. 

Have automatic sprinklers throughout and 
have employes drilled in use of hose stand¬ 
pipes, getting people out, etc., and forbid 
smoking under penalty of instant dismissal. 

(d) If any usefulness could be added to 
the water tower it would be in increasing its 
height. 

(e) The tower should be placed as far as 
possible away from the building when 
throwing water to a high altitude, for the 
reason that the water strikes the ceiling at 
a sharper angle when the tower is in close. 

Two second-size engines would deliver 500 
gallons each at a pressure of 200 lbs. each. 
This pressure would be necessary to com¬ 
pensate for friction loss, about 120 lbs., and 
head in lower 25 lbs.; total loss 145 lbs. 

Ques. 8:—Three simultaneous fires occur 
in the west side lower Manhattan. Two 
are of 10,000 square feet each and one of 
2,500 square feet. How much water per 
minute would be required? How much hy¬ 
drant pressure is necessary? Can one pump 
station supply it? 

ANS.:—I consider that twelve l*4-inch 
lines would be necessary for each of the 10,- 
000 foot fires, and 6 lines of 154 -inch for the 
2,500 foot fire. That would be 30 lines at 
150 lbs. pressure, which would require a de¬ 
livery of 24,300 gallons per minute. There- 


fore both Stations would be necessary. I 
have taken a safe margin, for reason that 
there may be considerable exposure from 
these fires, which require protection. 


Ques. 9:—(a) What in your judgment 
would be a proper test for fire-resisting qual¬ 
ities as a proposed type of fireproof floor, 
such as might be conducted by the Building 
Department at Columbia University where 
there is a place for making such tests? 

(b) How do iron or steel columns fail 
from effect of fire? 

(c) How should they be protected? 

ANS.:—(a) A brick inclosure to be built 
having 4 rolled channel beams weighing 25 
lbs. to the foot, placed 4 feet between cen¬ 
tres and properly tied by tie rods, two to 
rest on the side walls, the other two sus¬ 
pended 14 feet on end walls, making an 
iron structure into which the building blocks 
are built, and then plastered underneath 
in the same way as they would be set and 
plastered in actual building. 

A load of 160 lbs. to the square foot ap¬ 
plied to the center span, after which it sub¬ 
jects to the heat of a wood fire of not less 
than 1,700 degrees for 4 hours, after which 
water is played from a lj4-inch nozzle, 60 
lbs. pressure, for 5 minutes against the un¬ 
derside. Then topside is flooded with wa¬ 
ter, and again 5 minutes and 1^-inch hose, 
60 lbs. pressure, on the underside. Then 
loaded with 600 lbs. to the square foot. 

If after this test, floor shows more than 
2 y 2 inches deflection the material is re¬ 
jected. 

(b) By getting soft from the heat the 
weight crushes them down, or in some cases 
they expand and throw the structure before 
getting hot enough to bend. 

(c) By at least 2 inches of fireproofing, 
such as brick, terra cotta cement, etc. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 


Weight 2. 

(To be finished by 12 P. M. 

(Received 84% in this subject.) 

Ques. 1:—State the powers or privileges 
conferred under the Charter on the Fire 
Department with reference to: 

(a) Right of way in going to and coming 
from a fire. 

(b) The use of hose bridges on railway 

tracks in case of fire. p _ , 

(c) Preventing the obstruction of fire hy¬ 
drants. . ^ 

(d) Pulling down buildings to prevent tfte 

spread of fire. . 

ANS.:—(a) The officers and members ot 
the Fire Department and their apparatus 
have the right of way over all vehicles while 
on duty responding to and returning from 
fires, except those carrying the U. b. mail. 

(b) Railroad companies must provide and 
use hose bridges of a kind and pattern to 
be approved by the Fire Commissioner. 

(c) No obstruction or material to be 
placed in front of any hydrant to middle of 


street or within 15 feet either side. If such 
is found, may be removed by the Depart¬ 
ment at the expense of parties responsible. 
All snow and ice accumulating in the above 
space to be removed by owner, lessee or 
other person occupying premises which it is 
in front off, same as cleaning sidewalks. 

(d) The Chief Officer in command, of a 
^ e . Commissioner, is authorized, 
when in their opinion it is necessary, to raze 
or demolish a building—to enter and take 
possession for that purpose. 

The corps of sappers and miners would be 
used to place any fire explosives necessary 
to raze the building. 

The owner would be entitled to compen¬ 
sation by applying to a court of competent 
jurisdiction, whose duty it would be to hold 
a trial by jury, and after hearing testimony, 
etc., determine and adjudge the amount of 
damage in same manner as public condemn¬ 
ation. 

Ques. 2:—(a) Name ten commodities over 
the storage of which the Fire Department 
has supervision. 

(b) Tell all the conditions that must be 
complied with in the storage of the sub¬ 
stances or vegetable products as to (1) 
quantity; (2) the kind of building in which 
they must be kept; (8) the several precau¬ 
tions that must be taken according to vary¬ 
ing circumstances. Answer fully. 

ANS.:—(a) Gun-powder, dynamite, gaso¬ 
lene, kerosene, vegetable fibre, nitrate of 
celluoloise, calcium carbide, matches, pack¬ 
ing cases in lots, storage of spirits or alco¬ 
hol. 

(b) Gun-powder. —Quantity, 14 lbs. No 
frame building inside fire limits, and not 
to two places in radius of 50 feet. Precau¬ 
tion: Kept in a receptacle which can be 
flooded from the outside or in a metal box 
on wheels, 10 feet inside entrance (said box 
kept closed when not being used), so that in 
case of fire it can be run into the street. 

Dynamite. —Kept in magazines of over 100 
in magazines of 1st class; less than 100 lbs. 
and more than 25 lbs. in magazines of 2nd 
class; 25 lbs. or less in magazines of 3rd 
class. 

These magazines to be in charge of a 
watchman or magazine-tender holding a 
certificate of fitness, who shall have no 
other duty. 

Magazines painted red with word “dan¬ 
ger” in white letters on black background. 

No other substances, such as primers, 
fuses, tools or any articles, allowed in the 
magazine, and primers must be 20 feet dis¬ 
tant. 

A proper safety zone maintained around 
magazines according to the amount of ex¬ 
plosives they contain. 

Care to be used in thawing frozen car¬ 
tridges. No heat except hot water under 
boiling point or fresh manure allowed. Lo¬ 
cations of 1st and 2nd class magazines to 
be designated in writing by the Fire Com¬ 
missioner. . . .... 

Gasolene.—Kind of buildings in which it 
may be stored: Refineries, storage stations, 


197 


garages, motor-cycle repair shops, paint 
stores and ship chandlers. 

Quantities.—Refineries, no limit. Stor¬ 
age stations, 50 barrels or 3,500 gallons in 
barrels and cans. Garages, 10 gallons in 
safety cans above ground, or 275 gallons in 
tanks buried 2 feet under ground. Paint 
stores, 20 gallons in 5-gallon safety cans, if 
building is occupied by more than one fam¬ 
ily, and 55 gallons if not occupied by more 
than one family. No permit for tenement 
houses. Where nature of business demands 
and conditions will permit, special permit 
may be granted to keep 75 gallons. 

No waste to be used in soaking up drips 
of linseed or other oils, except removed at 
once. No packages to be opened on the 
premises. 

Same provisions for ship chandlers. 

Transferring oil from container to boat 
to be made as follows: By a hose direct 
from container to tank, emptying the orig¬ 
inal package, or by proper safety can. Pour¬ 
ing from open vessels forbidden. 

Kerosene. —Over 100 degrees flashing 
point. 

Quantities.—Refineries, unlimited; storage 
stations, 300 barrels; may have 50,000 bar¬ 
rels in a building with walls of brick, stone 
or iron, and 150,000 bbls. if 150 feet distant 
from any building not controlled by the 
owner of Station if tanks are 2 feet under 
ground or surrounded by a proper wall to 
prevent overflow in case of the destruc¬ 
tion of the tanks. 

Groceries or retail dealers where there 
is more than one family in the house, 70 
gallons in barrels or cans; if only one fam¬ 
ily, 5 barrels or 120 gallons may be kept in 
approved tank. License $10. 

May be kept by individuals for heating; 
quantity 70 gallons without a permit. 

Jobbers may keep 1,100 barrels, and on 
special permit for building having brick 
walls, 5,500 barrels. 

Vegetable fibre. —No hay stack in the un- 
built-up portions within 300 yards of a 
dwelling, except in sheds or barns. 

No storage in any building not having 
walls of brick, stone or iron and roof cov¬ 
ered with tile slats or other fireproof mate¬ 
rial within 10 feet of any dwelling. 

2,000 lbs. of hay or straw loose, and 2 
tons baled, in private stables; 1,000 lbs. in 
building specially constructed. 

Larger quantities require a permit from 
the Commissioner. 

Where vegetable fibre is stored in quan¬ 
tities by permit, they must not exceed two- 
thirds the weight allowed for the floor by 
the Building Department or be piled more 
than two-thirds the height of the floors. 

All buildings having over 20 tons to be 
equipped with a sprinkler outfit. 

Nitrate of Celluloise. —Not to be stored in 
quantity greater than 500 lbs. without a per¬ 
mit. All accumulated particles and shav¬ 
ings kept in water and no amount of said 
particles greater than 200 lbs. kept on the 
premises. Any tools, saws, etc., used in the 
working of these materials where there is 


any danger of heating will be supplied with 
a jet of water. 

No larger quantity than is absolutely nec¬ 
essary shall be kept on the premises. 

Calcium Carbide. —Not over 125 lbs., ex¬ 
cept in buildings specially constructed or 
adapted. To be kept in metal air-tight cans, 
and stored in a dry, well ventilated place. 
Greater quantities on permit in buildings 
one story high having no cellar and 5 feet 
from other dwellings. For every 100 lbs., 
and in addition to 25 feet, 5t feet for every 
ton, but no greater space than 100 feet is 
required. This kind of building to have 
signs on all sides reading, “Calcium Car¬ 
bide. Use no water.” 

Matches.—Manufacturers and jobbers to 
submit samples to Commissioner and obtain 
permit; fee, $50. May have 350,000 Match- 
men’s gross in buildings of brick, stone or 
iron; extinguisher and 6 pails of water pro¬ 
vided. 

Jobbers may have 50,000 Matchmen’s 
gross; retailers, 50 Matchmen’s gross, for 
which no permit is necessary. Matches must 
have good stout splints and light easily 
without heads flying off or breaking; not 
more than 1,000 in a box and if over 200-box 
shall be strengthened by veneer, cardboard 
or other material. 

No fuse matches sold or given away; 
boxes to have name and brand of licenses. 

Must not be stored under counters, and 
if not in original packages must be in metal 
boxes. 

All permits renewed, $10. 

Packing Cases. —When stored in open 
lots, to be surrounded with a brick or stone 
wall 16 feet high, and cases must not be 
piled, within 12 inches of the top. 

Spirits.—When stored in buildings, 4 feet 
of cellar space allowed for each barrel. Must 
not be piled more than two tiers high and 
not more than 10 in all. 

Same amount for houses dealing in same, 
and may have two barrels on first floor. 

Liquor dealers having no other materials 
except those belonging to the business may 
have three barrels. 

Ques. 3:—Give the substance of the fire 
protective clauses of the Building Code re¬ 
lating to: 

(a) Hot air flues, pipes and vent ducts. 

(b) Elevators and hoistways. 

(c) Fireproof floors. 

ANS.:—<a) Hot air flues, pipes and vent 
ducts.— Pipes conveying hot air shall be 
metal-lined, and where passing to a register 
in a floor shall have double lining; registers 
set into stone or metal frames in floor and 
edges of pipe to be turned over this frame 
not to enter any upright partition within 8 
feet of the source of heat. Flat part of the 
cold-air flue leading to the furnace should 
be meetal for 15 feet. All woodwork pro¬ 
tected. If only one register over the fur¬ 
nace, no valve allowed. 

(b) Elevators and hoistways.— In all 
buildings hereafter erected, elevator shafts 
shall be enclosed with brick, stone, iron or 
other hard incombustible material and be 


198 


supplied with self-closing fire doors. Wall 
to extend 3 feet above roof and be coped. 

Hoistways must have proper railings and 
protection. Trap doors shall be closed at 
the end of the business day. If in the opin¬ 
ion of the building superintendent it is nec¬ 
essary, automatic protection shall be pro¬ 
vided to open and close with the elevator 
ascending and descending. 

(c) Fireproof floors shall consist of iron 
or steel beams of a sufficient strength to 
carry the load proposed to be carried. 

Brick, stone, concrete or terra cotta may 
be used for arches either in slabs, segments 
or other forms approved by the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings. 

Said beams shall be properly tied by tie 
rods 8 times their depth. Brick arches, 
when used, may consist of one course of 
brick 4 inches thick and having a rise of 1J4 
inch to the foot for arches; 5 feet or less if 
over that 8 inches, or two courses of brick, 
or as the Building Superintendent may pre¬ 
scribe. 

Hollow tile porous terra cotta approved 
by the Department of Buildings, and when 
so used shall be properly laid and bonded 
and well grouted with cement mortar. 
Arches will be set up so that the skew backs 
will fall into their proper places. 

When brick arches are used the joints of 
each course shall be broken, and if two 
courses are laid the joints of first and sec¬ 
ond courses must be also broken. 

Cement arches may be laid upon metal to 
weigh not less than one pound to the foot 
and have no opening greater than three 
square inches. 

These arches must be at least 4 inches at 
the top. Where the fireproof construction 
does not come up to the top of the beams, 
the space shall be filled in with cinder con- 
crete. Sleepers and wooden floors may be 
laid on top of this where the building does 
not exceed 150 feet or 12-story high. H 
it exceeds 150 feet or 12-story, the floors 
shall be constructed of concrete, stone or 
some other hard incombustible material ap¬ 
proved by the Superintendent of Buildings, 
or they may be of wood treated with a fire¬ 
proofing material approved by the Super¬ 
intendent of Buildings. 


Ques. 4:—What special safeguards against 
•e are provided for in the tenement house 
w in the construction of each of the toi- 
wing parts of a modern tenement house: 
(1) The cellar, the cellar walls and the 
Denings therein; (2) The stairs leading 
om the cellar to the first floor, (8 The 
-p wanes* (4) The ground floor, mclud- 
g supporting beams; (5) The courts; (6) 
he chimneys, flues and fireplaces. 

ANS.:—(1) and (2). Cellar andatairs- 
i buildings 5-story and over, or 4-story 
id basement above a cellar the floor abo ?| 


built of fireproof material, and if covered be 
covered with fireproof material. 

In building 4-story, ceiling shall be lathed 
with metal lath and plastered with two 
coats of brown mortar or plaster boards 
one-half inch thick, having all joints prop¬ 
erly filled, have fireproof stairs and self¬ 
closing fire doors top and bottom. Have 
entrance to the outside. When shafts, dumb 
waiters, etc., extend to cellar they must be 
in brick walls and have self-closing fireproof 
doors. 

(3) Fire escapes.—On all buildings over 
3-story in height occupied by not more than 
four families, or on any building occupied 
by two or more families on a floor, proper 
fire escapes must be provided for each 
apartment, exclusive of a bath or water 
closet window. Fire escape shall consist 
of a balcony 4 feet from wall to rail and 
must not be less than 3 feet wide, furnished 
with a ladder set at an angle not less than 
60 degrees; have a hole 21 by 28 inches, 
have proper ladder reach the ground, and 
if on the rear a goose neck ladder to the 
roof. 

Where there are more than four families 
to a floor, a fire escape may be located in 
an inner court or an outer court, but a 
proper fireproof retreat 7 feet high and 3 
feet wide shall be provided at the bottom. 

(4) Floors.—The ground floor shall be 
constructed fireproof for a building 5-story 
and over, 4-story and basement above a cel¬ 
lar. 

(5) Courts.—Outer courts for buildings 
60 feet (or over), 6 feet, and for every 12 
feet higher, 6 inches additional, and for 
every 12 feet less 6 inches, less not to exceed 
4 feet. 

Inner courts 16 feet square with an addi¬ 
tion for every 12 feet and a diminution for 
every 12 feet less not to exceed. 

(6) Chimney to be lined with a burnt clay 
pipe throughout. 


Ques. 5:—Describe the various building 
egulations and fire regulations regarding 
tandpipes and sprinkler systems. 

ANS.:—All buildings 85 feet and less than 
50 feet, to have a 4-inch standpipe with 
hree Siamese connection on walk and 2*4 
mtlets, and hose sufficient to cover the floor 
>n each floor. 

All buildings over 150 feet, a 6-inch stand¬ 
ee, tank, hose on each floor, pumps in 
•ellar elevator and pump to be ready at all 
imes, including Sundays and holidays; boil- 
■r protected with brick wall 2 feet high to 
:eep out water. 

Have perforated pipes or automatic 
iprinklers in cellars and sub-cellars. Head- 
■rs of perforated pipes 4 inches, 3-inch two- 
vay Siamese with sign, “This pipe leads to 
•ellar,” or sub-cellar pipes V/ 2 -mch placed 
12 1 A feet apart; have 1-14 holes drilled (not 
>unched) on the quarters staggered, mak- 
ng 24 to the foot; be well braced to stand 
vibration. 


199 


Ques. 6:—State your ideas as to amend¬ 
ing the Building Code so as to insure great¬ 
er safety against the danger of fire to pa¬ 
trons of summer amusement resorts.. If you 
consider the present Code satisfactory, give 
reasons for your opinions. If you consider 
that changes should be made, outline such 
changes briefly, giving important particulars 
and reasons for your opinion. 

ANS.:—I believe that all the provisions 
of the Building Code as now applying to 
hotels in other portions of the City should 
as far as possible be made applicable to 
these places. 

They should have proper and adequate 
tire escapes, should have a standpipe equip¬ 
ment, including a sufficient tank, pumps, 
etc. Elevator and stair shafts should be 
built fire proof, and that portior of the 
building where the heating and cooking 
plants are should be cut off from other por¬ 
tions of the building by fireproof walls and 
doors. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Weight 1. 

(Received 79% on this subject.) 

Ques. 1:—It is claimed that the present 
Book of Rules is cumbersome and contains 
much irrelevant material, and should there¬ 
fore be completely revised. Give your views 
regarding the suggestion, stating your ideas 
as to the matter to be contained in a Book 
of Rules. State also your ideas as to any 
additional manual or manuals to be held by 
individual members of the Department, giv¬ 
ing your views as to the contents of such 
books and stating your reasons fully. If 
you deem the present methods satisfactory, 
give reasons for your opinion. 

ANS.:—The claim that the Book of Rules 
is cumbersome is well founded, as it has 
been in existence since 1895, during which 
time the Department had numerous Com¬ 
missioners who issued all kinds and titles 
of orders, a great many in conflict with the 
Book of Rules and Regulations, without 
ordering any change in the rules, thereby 
leaving the officers and members in a quan- 
dery as to which was right. 

The book has been revised a few times, 
each time, apparently, by men who were un¬ 
equal to the occasion of making a new draft 
of up-to-date rules, but who stuck to the ex¬ 
act text of the rules promulgated 25 or 30 
years ago, and as a result such things as a 
rule which says a company shall have only 
one man on day-off are in the present book, 
while several companies have 5 or 6 off on 
the same day, thereby obeying one rule 
which says that the men shall have a day 
off every 5th day, and breaking the other 
one. 

A proper book should have no incon¬ 
sistencies and should be the rule and guide 
for every member of the Department from 
the Commissioner down. 

Such a book should have rules governing 
the Chief of Department, Deputy Chiefs, 
Chiefs of Battalion, Commanding Officers 


and Lieutenants of companies, Engineers 
and care of engines. 

Rules covering companies in and out 
of quarters and at fires, general rules cov¬ 
ering all members and officers alike, cover¬ 
ing the making out and forwarding of pay 
rolls, care and accountability of public prop¬ 
erty, Medical Officer, sick leaves; care, 
treatment and accountability of horses; 
cover repair shop repairs to and accounta¬ 
bility for apparatus. 

After making up such a book in articles 
and sections all future orders ought to be 
issued as new sections or amendments to, 
or substitutes for, others in this way. It 
would be comparatively easy to keep track 
of the rules and discipline of the Depart¬ 
ment, and when charges are preferred they 
should in all cases be based on a violation 
of some specific rule. 

I believe that a manual of fire-fighting 
covering all the problems we contend with 
should be prepared and issued to the offi¬ 
cers and members; such manual to be 
amended from time to time as new problems 
and experiences come up. This would add 
materially to the knowledge and instruction 
of the force in general. 

Ques. 2:—Explain with all the necessary 
particulars the authority and rules for ac¬ 
tion of the Fire Department under the fol¬ 
lowing conditions: 

(a) A great fire on Governor’s Island in 
the night time. 

(b) The collapse of a building in course 
of construction. 

(c) A big fire at Communipaw Ferry, 
threatening warehouses, shipping and many 
human lives. 

(d) A fire at the Reformatory, Hart’s Isl¬ 
and. 

(e) The collapse of a number of tents 
during a thunder storm at a circus perform¬ 
ance. 

ANS.:—(a) By an order issued that upon 
firing of a gun at night time the fire boats 
will respond. 

(b) The necessity of saving human life 
if possible, as there is no other branch of 
the City government so well equipped as the 
Fire Department. 

By a State law giving the Fire Depart¬ 
ment authority to respond and take charge 
and extinguish fires in the harbor and shores 
adjacent thereto and defining the harbor as 
North and East River, etc. 

(c) While the law reads that they shall 
take charge, I believe the best way in that 
case would be to offer services, which in all 
cases are gratefully accepted, and thereby 
as good without causing friction. 

(d) As there is no Reformatory on Hart’s 
Island it is presumed that the question cov¬ 
ers other City buildings. In such case the 
Fire boats would respond and use their own 
or any other appliances found on the Island 
to extinguish the fire. 

Same authority as (b). 

(e) By a municipal ordinance, and same 
as answer to (b). 


200 


Ques. 8:-—Explain the provisions of the 
rules relating to: (a) Operation of the 
School of Instruction; (b) Duties of offi¬ 
cers and drivers regarding care and condi¬ 
tion of horses and equipment; (c) The vari¬ 
ous steps in the process of bringing charges 
against a Battalion Chief and trying him 
for breach of duty. 

ANS.:—(a) Companies to report without 
apparatus when so directed. Company of¬ 
ficers for a period of six weeks, after which 
they shall be examined as to their profi¬ 
ciency. 

The school was formed on an order of 
the Commissioner detailing Chief Croker, 
Dep. Chiefs Kenlon and Maher, Chiefs of 
Battalion Worth, Norton and Larkin, and 
Foremen Henry and Walsh to prepare 
courses of instruction and a manual on fire 
fighting. 

The classes were to consist of: 

Class for Probationary Firemen. 

Class for Companies. 

Class for Officers. 

The subjects for Officers were: 

General fire fighting. 

Sapping and Mining. 

Handling of high tension currents. 

Automobile Engineering. 

Auxiliary fire appliances. 

Marine fires. 

Discipline and Administration. 

Care of fiQse. 

Engines and boilers. 

Care of horses. 

Use of telegraph. 

The course for Probationary Fireman is 
30 days. 

(b) Horses should be taught to take 
their places quickly at the sound of the 
gong. Should be properly harnessed. See 
that collars are proper fit. Fed in compli¬ 
ance with rules, that is, 14 lbs. of oats, 12 
lbs. of hay, 3 lbs. of straw and V/ 2 <}f bran 
daily, and if more is required notify the 
veterinary department, who will see if more 
is necessary. 

Water at least 6 times in the 24 hours. 
Should not be driven at too great a rate 
of speed. Driver should always have con¬ 
trol. Removed from apparatus and taken to 
place of shelter in cold weather, or well 
blanketed. 

To be on trial 30 days before being bought 
at the risk of the owner (except accident). 
Report to be made by officer in whose pos¬ 
session he is at the end of that term to 
the Commissioner, stating whether he is fit 
for the service. 

Company Commanders will see that driv¬ 
ers do their full duty to horses, both to 
grooming, feeding, watering, etc. 

See that blacksmiths shoe properly; that 
they fit the shoe to the hoof, not the hoof 
to the shoe, and report all neglect that may 
be observed. 

Horses must not be taken from quarters 
(except on fire duty) without the consent 
of the officer in charge of the division of 
horses. If unable to perform duty, the 


officer in charge of division of horses will 
be notified and spare horse procured. 

(c) Written charges shall be made, usu¬ 
ally by the next officer above, specifying the 
offense and the law, ordinance, order, rule 
or regulation specified, with date of offense 
and time and place, also witnesses. 

This charge shall be forwarded through 
the regular channels and investigated by 
the intermediate officers, and their opinion 
and endorsement will be made on the back, 
and a statement whether in their opinion 
the charge can be sustained by the evi¬ 
dence. 

This charge can be made by a subordinate 
or a citizen, if the proper officials refuse to 
take action. 

He will be served with a notice to ap¬ 
pear before a Commissioner or Deputy 
Commissioner at the Headquarters of the 
Borough in which he was served at the time 
of the alleged offense. At the time of serv¬ 
ing the notice he will also be served with 
a copy of the charges. 

He shall have at least 48 hours’ notice. 

No officer can withhold or suppress 
charges, but must forward and endorse 
them. 

Ques. 4:—Explain more in detail the fol¬ 
lowing sections of the general rules. What 
object, if any, does each serve and of what 
practical value is it? In each case give two 
illustrations of its application. 

Sec. 183. Be responsible for any want of 
judgment, skill, neglect or failure on his own 
part, which may cause unnecessary loss of 
life, limb or property. 

Sec. 195. Officers and members will not 
visit Headquarters, except by permission of 
proper authority. 

Sec. 208. Not engage in altercations un¬ 
der any circumstances. 

Sec. 211. Not be guilty of deception or 
evasion of any law, ordinance, rule, regula¬ 
tion or order, general, special or verbal. 

ANS.:—It would be said or charged 
against an incompetent officer. For instance, 
if persons were at a window in a burning 
building and he had means at his command 
to rescue them and failed to use them, or 
give proper orders or directions for their 
rescue, or failed to call enough apparatus to 
safeguard property in danger from fire. 

This order was meant to keep Firemen 
and Officers from going underhand to com¬ 
plain to the Commissioner, it being under¬ 
stood that all complaints be put in writing 
and forwarded through regular channels; or 
if verbal interviews are required, the inter¬ 
mediate officers would be cognizant of their 
purport. . 

This rule is necessary to enforce disci¬ 
pline. A number of officers and men would 
commit assaults under claim of aggrava¬ 
tion or justification. This rule prevents 
this. 

This covers anyone shirking his duty. He 
may to all appearances be making every ef¬ 
fort, but is secretly conniving to get away 
from danger or punishment. It also covers 
lying and making false statements. 


201 


Ques. 5:—Give the most important regu¬ 
lation regarding each of the following: (a) 
Purchase; (b) Use; (c) Care; (d) Preserva¬ 
tion of Fire Hose. State the particular pur¬ 
pose or reason for the rule you give; show 
how the rule is likely to be violated, and 
suggest any changes or amendments you 
think advisable, with your reasons in all 
cases. 

ANS.:—(a) By an order of the Commis¬ 
sioner there is established a Bureau of Prop¬ 
erty Accountability. One of the Divisions 
of that Bureau is called the “Purchasing 
Division.” There all specifications are pre¬ 
pared. On this specification the hose is 
bought and tested before its acceptance, 
usually 400 pounds pressure. 

(b) Its use is to convey water from a hy¬ 
drant or an engine to the seat of a fire. 

(c and d) It should not be run over by ap¬ 
paratus, should not be subject to unusual or 
unnecessary strains by shutting off nozzles 
while under high pressure (controlling noz¬ 
zles should not be closed with over 75 on 
2J4, 60 on 3-inch and 50 on 1^4-inch hose). 

It should be kept on the side of the street 
on which the engine is, until reaching the 
fire. When stretching into fires, should be 
removed and washed and hung up to dry on 
return from a fire. 

It should be changed on wagons every 
two weeks so as not to have the bend in 
same place too long. Have a small portion 
of oil put on threads of the butts when 
coupling, care being taken not to let any 
get on the fabric. 

No steam used in towers where hose is 
hung (except to cause ice to fall off); bot¬ 
tom and top of tower left partly open to 
cause a draught so as to properly dry the 
hose. 

All the above rules are the results of ex¬ 
perience and are not in need of much revi¬ 
sion except as to specifications. 

I understand from some reliable manu¬ 
facturers that they are unable to bid, on 
account of technicalities in the specifica¬ 
tions. 

I would suggest that the bid call for good 
hose furnished by a reliable manufacturer 
and guaranteed for four years, or other term 
according to the district it was doing serv¬ 
ice in. If it bursts in that time it should 
be replaced. 

REPORT. 

Weight 2. 

(Received 83 per cent, on this subject.) 

Report No. 1:—Write a report addressed 
to the Fire Commissioner giving your opin¬ 
ion as to the advisability of replacing horse- 
drawn apparatus with self-propelling appa¬ 
ratus as soon as possible. In the report 
give your ideas as to the following, stating 
your reasons when necessary: 

(1) Comparative cost of operation. 

(2) Comparative efficiency of apparatus. 

(8) Present development of self-propel¬ 
ling fire apparatus. 


(4) Probable future development of such 
apparatus. 

(5) Installation and keeping of such appa¬ 
ratus. 

(6) Additional suggestions which you 
deem advisable. 

ANSWER:— 

July 11, 1911. 

Hon. Joseph Johnson, 

Fire Commissioner, 

City of New York. 

Sir: 

After a careful study and numerous inves¬ 
tigations and comparisons, I respectfully re¬ 
port that I am absolutely in favor of motor 
driven apparatus over horses. 

In the first place they are more econom¬ 
ical, as they require no sustenance, shoeing, 
veterinary, etc., while standing still, which 
in a great many locations may mean days, 
weeks and sometimes months at a time. 

They require no stall-room, or don’t emit 
the smell or stench of horses, and their 
execrations (though the gasoline throws 
a little, too). 

They don’t require the constant attention 
which horses have to have, namely, groom¬ 
ing, feeding and watering, but once filled 
with gasoline, oil and water, remain so un¬ 
til used. 

They are ready and under way at the last 
tap of the gong, all that is necessary is to 
crank the engine, jump in the seat, and go. 

Not so with horses. They have to be re¬ 
leased, hitched, and often they run back, 
shy or fd.ll, thereby causing delay. 

Once in the street they are under the ab¬ 
solute control of the operator. 

If he wants speed he simply opens his 
throttle until he receives the desired speed 
and if he wishes to stop, yes, stop instantly, 
all he has to do is press down his foot and 
the thing is done. 

On the other hand he is driving three 
horses and he wants speed. How does he 
get it? By pulling the whip and laying it 
on, a very unmerciful thing in itself. If he 
wants to pull up quick after this procedure, 
can he do it? Not unless the three horses 
agree to let him. 

Then we consider the speed a motor 
driven apparatus can attain in comparative 
safety and you will see the advantage 
gained in reaching a fire before it has time 
to spread. 

In hot weather a company proceeding to 
a 4th or 5th alarm, or to a 1st alarm, for 
that matter, in the suburbs where the runs 
are long, has to almost walk the horses, or 
they will drop and leave them there, the 
same in pulling up steep grades. Not so 
with the auto, it goes right along at full 
speed, regardless of the weather, hot or 
cold, or of the grade, great or small. 

The driver of an auto doesn’t have to 
fret about his charge sweating or suffering 
like the driver of a poor old horse. 

Commissioner Waldo was the first pro¬ 
gressive man who held that office in 15 
years and he saw these points and an- 


202 


nounced his intention to not have a horse 
in the Department in five years, and the 
press and all men who look to the future 
of the Department lauded him for his prom¬ 
ise. 

The present development of motor appa¬ 
ratus has clearly shown their absolute util¬ 
ity. 

The hose wagon, a motor driven appa¬ 
ratus in use for a long time in Engline Co. 
72, in 12th Street and University Place, has 
shown both efficiency and economy; effi¬ 
ciency in being able to pass all other appa¬ 
ratus it encounters going to a fire, with 
very little repairs; economy in that it costs 
about 1-3 what a team of horses would for 
any given time. 

The improvements made in motor appa¬ 
ratus during the last few years points out 
conclusively their future development, 
which I feel safe to say will be far beyond 
our greatest expectation. 

The water tower located across the way 
almost from this building is a very heavy 
and cumbersome apparatus which weighed 
7 tons and was very difficult to drag to a 
fire. Our good Commissioner had a 4-ton 
couple gear motor attached to it, making 
it weigh 11 tons, and now it proceeds to 
a fire at any gait required from 300 yards 
to 15 miles an hour, can be run backwards 
as well as forwards, and, if necessary, could 
pull two engines to a fire along with itself. 

In the snow last winter it ran along when 
nearly all other apparatus were stalled. 

For Chief officers the automobile is ideal, 
as it gets them to a fire in a fraction of the 
time required by a wagon. 

From the foregoing comparisons, I would 
advise and suggest that all Chief officers be 
furnished with automobiles, that all en¬ 
gines, trucks and water towers be motorized 
with either a direct gasolene motor, or one 
like which is on the water tower No. 1, and 
which has some decided advantages for pro¬ 
pelling fire apparatus. 

Electric current is generated by a 12 kilo 
generator attached to the gasolene engine, 
which is about 40 horse power. This cur¬ 
rent is in turn transmitted to a motor in 
each wheel at the will of the operator, caus¬ 
ing them to revolve in any direction re¬ 
quired. 

There being no “speeds” to this class of 
motor, it is ideal for heavy traffic on crowd¬ 
ed streets, as it can be run along barely 
moving or at full speed, without stalling or 
heating up. 

Hoping that I have given the automobile 
the credit it deserves and that I have inter¬ 
ested you enough to cause you to look fur¬ 
ther into the matter, 

Respectfully submitted, 


Report No. 2:—Write a report, properiy 
dated and addressed to your Superior Offi¬ 
cer stating reasons why fires that occur in 
factories and office buildings are often at¬ 
tended with great loss of life, and suggest¬ 


ing measures the adoption of which tend 
greatly to lessen this evil. 

N. B. 1:—-Candidates are instructed that 
while conciseness and clearness of expres¬ 
sion will be taken into account in rating this 
report, the chief consideration will be given 
to the knowledge of the subject displayed. 

N. B. 2:—Do not sign any name or num¬ 
ber to the report. 

ANSWER: 

July 11, 1911. 

John Kenlon, 

Chief of Department. 

Sir: 

In compliance with your request for rea¬ 
sons why fires which occur in factories and 
office buildings are often attended with 
great loss of life, I respectfully submit the 
following: 

The reasons for such loss of life are that 
a great many of the employees from the 
first day they go to work in the factory or 
offices, go up and down in elevators and like 
a frightened rat running to a hole when 
danger approaches, they think of no other 
means of escape but the way they are used 
to going up and down. A great many don’t 
know where the stairs or fire escapes are 
located even when such are present. 

The remedy for this would be proper 
drill and instruction. 

All the male employees should be prop¬ 
erly organized and drilled to answer alarms 
given in the building, to be able to use the 
hose, tools, etc., provided for that purpose, 
and others to look after the orderly escape 
of the female employees. 

If there had been such a system in the 
Asch Building and a couple of good men to 
grab the hose leading from the standpipe, 
and start the water, it is certain that no loss 
of life and very little property would have 
taken place. 

All clippings, cases, etc., other refuse 
should be removed daily and as little as pos¬ 
sible left around at any time. 

Smoking should be strictly forbidden and 
anyone caught immediately dismissed; if 
there had not been a smoker in the Asch 
Building, there would have been no fire. 

I would suggest that all high factory 
buildings have an interior tower fire escape, 
consisting of a stairway enclosed in a brick 
or fireproof tower with no direct openings 
to the building. Access to the tower t^ be 
gained from an outside balcony connecting 
with windows of the building. 

Where large floor areas like the Asch 
Building exist, put a fire wall through cen¬ 
ter of building with swinging fireproof 
doors at proper intervals, and a tower as 
described on each side of the building; then 
in case of a fire on one side, the employees 
could either escape by balcony on the side 
they were on, or get through the swinging 
doors to the other side. 

Have Automatic Sprinklers in all such 
buildings with proper tanks and outside Fire 
Department connections. 


203 



Have standpipes and hose located inside 
of fire towers so the Department could come 
up to or above the fire and operated from 
these points. 

All doors leading to the balcony from 
floors to open out and doors from balcony 
to tower, if there are any, to open in. 

Another cause of fire is the accumulation 
of rubbish on floors and in cellars. These 
should be removed or packed in a safe place 
daily. 

Hoping that I have covered the matter to 
your satisfaction, 

Respectfully submitted, 


ANSWERS BY NO. 3 ON LIST. 

NOTE:—The answers only are here given, 
as the questions are already given in connec¬ 
tion with Deputy Chief Maher’s answers. 

ADMINISTRATION. 

(Received 77% on this subject.) 

ANS. 1:—As six of the engine companies 
due at station No. 413 for which a fourth 
alarm is out are at second alarm for station 
No. 435, and as companies do not locate until 
receipt of third or greater alarm, and as¬ 
suming that none of the engine or hook and 
ladder companies due at second alarm station 
No. 435 had returned to quarters, also the 
water tower, you would have but 13 engine 
companies and 2 hook and ladder companies 
to respond on fourth and all alarms up to 
same at station No. 413. Upon arrival at 
fire for which fourth alarm has been sent out 
from box 413, and finding the force not suffi¬ 
cient, would send out fifth alarm, which oper¬ 
ator at Headquarters would transmit from 
nearest fifth alarm box. 

Call for water tower No. 2 by special call. 

Order companies to connect up to stand¬ 
pipe on outside, using 3-inch hose, and also to 
sprinkler system. Put lines to work on fire 
escapes, but only if possible to work in such 
position. Because of heat and smoke from 
lumber on fire, would place companies to pre¬ 
vent the spread of fire, and cause the com¬ 
panies reporting on fifth alarm, perhaps some 
of the fourth or other alarm due companies, 
to take supply from the hydrants within the 
high pressure zone. 

The length of line of hose for such stretch 
would be about four blocks; the size of hose 
would be 3-inch with perhaps 20 to 24 lengths 
in each line; the size of nozzle l^-inch or 
one-half the size of the hose. By connect¬ 
ing to the high pressure system you could 
obtain any desired pressure up to 300 pounds 
at the pumps, allowing for loss by friction, 
etc., and by such action would have use of 
other lines at fire to protect the open eleva¬ 
tor shafts above the fire, and by pressing the 
hook and ladder companies at the fire into 
service to ventilate and assist in such long 
stretches. 

If necessary, would have called additional 


hook and ladder companies. Would add to 
lines connected with sprinkler system. Care 
should be taken to not have too great a pres¬ 
sure. About 50 pounds on heads would be 
correct. 

Would when leaving fire station 435 (first 
fire) direct officer whom I left in command 
to let me know by ’phone or otherwise all 
conditions at all times until services of com¬ 
panies could be dispensed with, and cause such 
of same as he could spare to report to station 
No. 413 for duty, to be used if required. 
There is no fire in cellar or sub-basement, 
but owing to open elevator shaft that sec¬ 
tion must be protected by location of a line 
or by sprinkler if unable to reach that point 
and in doubt as to fire because of heat and 
smoke and surrounding conditions. 

ANS. 2:—(a) In each of the high pressure 
stations or pumping stations the rated capac¬ 
ity is for five centrifugal pumps in each sta¬ 
tion at 3,000 gallons for Manhattan This is 
for sea or salt water, but the full or actual 
capacity would be about 9,000 gallons more. 

The main station in Brooklyn has rated 
capacity of 15,000 gallons of salt water. The 
reservoir station has only three pumps and 
has capacity of 9,000 gallons per minute, has 
no connection for sea water; total capacity 
for main and reservoir for Brooklyn 24,000 
gallons per minute, at a pressure of 300 pounds 
to the square inch. 

In the Coney Island high pressure pump¬ 
ing station are three vertical triplex pumps, 
operated by three cylinder single-acting four¬ 
cycle gas engines. Each pump is capable of 
discharging 1,200 gallons per minute at pres¬ 
sure of 150 pounds, or 3,600 capacity for sys¬ 
tem. 

(b) The capacity can be exceeded by the 
installation of additional pumps in Manhattan 
and Brooklyn by additional supply from the 
distribution system, 3,000 gallons additional 
for each additional pump such as are in use 
at present. As to the system in Manhattan, 
the total number of streams that could be used 
if full capacity was required, would be re¬ 
duced, but the pressure would be the same. 
A safe and sufficient pressure on pumps is 150 
pounds. 

(c) Ten 2-inch Y nozzle streams, 1,400 gal¬ 
lons per minute. 

Fifteen lJ4-inch nozzle streams, 460 gallons 
per minute. 

Fifteen lj4-inch nozzle streams, 740 gallons 
per minute. 

(d) If necessary, the fireboats can pump 
into the system should it give out or capacity 
be insufficient. It is unwise to overtax the 
supply. Would have a bad effect on lines at 
work. 

ANS. 3:—(a) If explosion destroyed the 
fire-alarm headquarters, as Chief of Depart¬ 
ment I would first order all leaves of absence 
stopped, establish a street patrol, cause ar¬ 
rangements to be made with Plaza Central to 
receive and to transmit all alarms for fire re¬ 
ceived as directed by an officer or officers 
detailed to such place by Chief of Department. 
I would have in addition to men on street a 
Fireman at each telephone nearest to every 


204 




! engine and hook and ladder company. This 
system would cover all bad fires and other 
| conditions. By detailing men from other sec- 
i tions or of boroughs, where no such condi¬ 
tion existed, this system would notify fourth 
or other alarm companies simultaneously. 

I ANS. 4: —(a) All officers must familiarize 
themselves with all buildings in their district, 
keep a record of the inspections in book to 
i be known as Building Record Journal, with 
written or printed description of all buildings 
in company districts. Periodical inspections 
must be made of churches, hotels, factories, 
warehouses, theatres when play is not in prog¬ 
ress, stores and places where persons are con- 
' gregated for business, worship or instruction, 
and report any found to be in unsafe condi¬ 
tion, what the nature of such unsafe con¬ 
dition . is, and the section of law violated. 
Must inspect and report all buildings which 
from any cause are found to be unsafe or 
where any law or ordinance is violated, and 
in case of fire promptly report dangerous or 
unsafe building to officer in charge of fire. 
Buildings where auxiliary fire appliances are 
\ installed will be reported to that bureau April 
and October 15 each year; also where they 
j are required, whether previously reported or 
not, and keep record in Building Record Jour¬ 
nal. 

(b) All auxiliary fire appliances, alarm sys¬ 
tem, sprinkler system, condition of same 

| looked after by monthly inspections. 

(c) They have smoke masks to be used by 
Firemen to reach persons where smoke is 
deadly or such gases present. They are need¬ 
ed in wholesale drug houses, where strong 
acids are stored. 

ANS. 5: —(a) Automatic sprinklers shall be 
installed in such buildings as may be directed 
by the Fire Commissioner after inspection 
of premises, the pipes so installed to be six 
inches below ceiling, securely fastened with 
sprinkler heads placed twelve feet apart and 
set to fuse or let go at 165 degrees of heat. 
They work automatically and operate alarm, 
which goes direct to company and is trans¬ 
mitted to Fire Headquarters. Sprinkler sys¬ 
tem may be installed on anv and all floors of 
a building or structure. They are supplied 
by gravity pressure from tank on roof or in 
cellar or from street and pipes, if necessary, 
except in theatres, where they are not to be 
connected to standpipe for supply; to have 
shut-off valves on each floor. 

(b) Automatic sprinklers are desired in all 
theatres, department stores, warehouses, jute 
mills, storehouses, grain elevators, manufac¬ 
tories and other places where large quantities 
of stock are exposed, etc. 

(c) The supply is furnished. by gravity 
pressure from tank on roof or in cellar, or 
from standpipe system ; power from pump in 
building or from apparatus of the Fire De¬ 
partment. 

(d) No connection to sprinkler system di¬ 
rect to high pressure system would be ad¬ 
visable. Reasons: Because if the pressure 
should back up on the line, even if working 
at low or desired pressure, it would become 


too great and be apt to break the fastenings 
of pipe or pipe hangers, or blow off heads 
in other parts of system. 

ANS. 6:—(a) The automobile apparatus in 
use in this department, engine, truck and wa¬ 
ter tower, is by gasolene-power, couple-gear 
tractor; chief officers’ automobiles by gasolene 
engines of various horse-power, etc.; hose 
wagons, by powerful gasolene engines. 

(b) and (c) Automobile apparatus have 
many advantages over horse-drawn. They re¬ 
spond more rapidly and can be controlled 
more easily, and the cost of maintaining is 
much less. It has been shown by trial in this 
department the cost is about fifteen times less 
to maintain a motor-propelled hose wagon 
than horse-drawn, and in outlying sections, 
where runs are few, but where the distance is 
great, the motor-propelled apparatus would 
improve the efficiency of the department by 
more rapid response and by saving in main¬ 
tenance. And when installed in'outlying sec¬ 
tions they will, when properly assigned or 
located, cover such large sections of sparsely 
built-up locality, and thereby save the installa¬ 
tion of other or more fire companies. 

(d) An automobile fire engine or engines 
equipped with couple-gear tractors which are 
very heavy, must be made safe in running 
gear, strong wheels, strong axles, have com¬ 
petent men to operate same, and the hose 
wagon of such an engine company or engine 
so equipped must also be motor-propelled. 

(e) The last new fireboats’ engines, Nos. 85 
and 86, have proved satisfactory, and they 
have two sets of pumps, capacity 4,500 each 
at 150 pounds at pump, or 9,000 for both at 
150 pounds. They can be four-staged by one 
discharging into the other, when the pressure 
can be increased from 150 pounds to 300 
pounds or over, but the capacity will be re¬ 
duced one-half. Have double fore and aft 
engines and Babcock and Wilcox boilers; 
speed, 15 miles an hour: draft 10 to 10 T A 
feet. The Babcock-Wilcox boilers are noted 
for their quick steaming when under full 
motion. Those, or about those, are the re¬ 
quirements I would recommend unless a new 
boat was required to go or to locate where 
water was shallow. Then the draft would 
have to be considered. 

ANS. 7: —(a) The selection of sites for 
apparatus houses, must consider; not to mar 
the site of any street or avenue, or to be 
placed where proposed streets or avenues 
have been laid out; also that the built-up 
condition is such to warrant the location of 
such company; consider the location of the 
nearest adjoining companies. The equipment 
will then be either engine, hook. and ladder, 
hose, chemical or such combination of same 
as may be required, together with such sizes 
of hose, nozzles, hook and ladder trucks, en¬ 
gines, wagons and any and all appliances. The 
installation of alarm system, telephone, gongs, 
bells, etc. 

(b) As Chief of Department I would recom¬ 
mend relative to needed improvements in mer¬ 
cantile districts, that high pressure be < ex¬ 
tended to all parts of such district within 


205 


the city. The compliance and enforcement 
of all laws and ordinances relative to the 
sale, keep and storage of all explosives, chem¬ 
icals or substances, or compounds or combus¬ 
tible materials or volatile oils or products of 
coal tar having a boiling point below 60 de¬ 
grees Fahrenheit, etc. The installation of fire- 
alarm telegraph communicating with head¬ 
quarters and other auxiliary fire appliances as 
directed by the Fire Department. Also such 
fire escapes, iron shutters and doors, stair¬ 
ways, all to be properly inspected and to be 
kept in proper place and order at all times 
to provide means of escape for all in case of 
fire. Particularly, the placing of iron shutters 
on all buildings within 30 feet of the adjoin¬ 
ing or nearest building, or where the street is 
less than 30 feet wide; shutters to be placed 
on all windows above the first story of build¬ 
ings two or more than two stories high, etc. 
In frame buildings, see that periodical inspec¬ 
tions are made, and that all rubbish and com¬ 
bustible material is removed from cellars, etc. ; 
that no law or ordinance is permitted to be 
violated, and where such buildings are found 
to be in an unsafe condition from any cause, 
report will be made stating briefly, nature of 
such unsafe condition and section of law vio¬ 
lated ; cause any and all violations of law or 
ordinance to be reported promptly. 

(c) Would recommend that such buildings 
be equipped; if permitted to be occupied by 
large numbers of persons, with such good and 
sufficient fire escapes, stairways outside, and 
such means of escape as would accommodate 
or provide for the numbers so confined or 
located in such place, etc. I am of the opinion 
that the number of persons allowed to congre¬ 
gate above the seventh story should be lim¬ 
ited, to be handled by the Fire Department; 
all auxiliary fire appliances and alarm sys¬ 
tem installed. 

(d) Water tower 30 feet from building. 

(e) Second-size engines, rated capacity 700 
gallons per minute, four lines, two from each 
engine into one and the same discharge, 150 
pounds would be carried at engine; 300 feet 
of hose in each line would reduce each line 
about 45 pounds, allowing for friction, con¬ 
nections, etc.; 2-inch hose, 2-inch nozzle with 
the approximate pressure, 600 gallons per min¬ 
ute discharge. 

ANS. 8:—Such simultaneous fires could be 
supplied by one pumping station, if fire did 
not extend up and out. Pressure would be 
different as to requirement, etc.; 150 pounds 
is about the proper pressure unless extreme 
pressure and more lines than this case would 
indicate. 

ANS. 9:—(a) By applying substances when 
ignited that will generate sufficient heat from 
volatile products of petroleum t6 equal in test 
the one given in the Building Department at 
the University, always being fair in such mat¬ 
ters. 

(b) Iron or steel columns should be pro¬ 
tected by brick or fireproof covering, 8 inches 
of brick on front and 4 inches on sides; in¬ 
side columns to be protected by fireproof 
material. 


(c) Iron columns will warp and twist and 
bend from the effect of heat and fire, and 
steel columns will snap and break from the 
effect of fire. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

(Received 86.00% on this subject.) 

ANS. 1:—(a) The officers and members of 
the Fire Department with their apparatus of 
all kinds, while responding to or returning 
from alarms for fire, etc., shall have the right 
of way on any street, highway or avenue over 
any and all vehicles. 

(b) Railroad companies shall supply such 
hose bridges to be placed over hose, stretched 
across tracks in case of fire, and will not at¬ 
tempt to cross until such bridges are properly 
placed in compliance with requirements. 

(c) The owner, lessee or other responsible 
person in charge of buildings in front of which 
fire hydrants are placed will keep the same 
free from snow and ice or other obstruction, 
from the curb line and 10 feet thereof to 
center of street, under a penalty of ten dollars 
for each offense, and no person shall in any 
manner obstruct any fire hydrant, same clear¬ 
ance and same penalty, presented by inspection 
of and the ordering removal of obstruction, 
etc. 

(d) Under the law, the Fire Commissioner 
has the power to pull down or demolish build¬ 
ings to arrest or prevent the spread of fire 
or fires, and under the rules and regulations 
the Commissioner confers upon the Chief of 
Department the same power. 

ANS. 2:—(a) Storage of ten (10) com¬ 
modities—Combustible material: Hay, straw, 
hemp, rags, jute, shavings, etc. Chemicals, 
drugs, explosives, automobiles, safety cans, 
filling tanks and underground storage tank, 
oil products of petroleum, a depot of storage 
of explosives for use by sappers and miners’ 
corps. Paints, oils and acids, carboys and in 
amounts allowed wholesale and retail, fulmi¬ 
nate of mercury, gold and silver and other 
fulminating compounds, oxygen-carrying salts 
such as chlorates, nitrates, the bichlorates and 
the permanganates. 

(b) Conditions—Wholesale and retail deal¬ 
ers, trading or manufacturing, and requiring 
use of drugs or chemicals must make appli¬ 
cation to the Fire Commissioner for permit. 
After a survey same may be granted if con¬ 
ditions are found to be satisfactory and com¬ 
pliance with regulations of the Municipal Ex¬ 
plosives Commission. License fee, wholesale 
drug store $10; retail dealer, $2. No colored 
fire, flashlight powder, liquid acetylene, acety¬ 
lene of copper, fulminate of mercury, gold, 
silver and other fulminating compounds, ex¬ 
cept in official U. S. pharmacopia solutions, 
volatile products of petroleum or coal tar 
having a boiling point below 60 degrees Fahr¬ 
enheit. No chloride of potash, phosphorus 
or sulphur. 

No permit will, be granted to a wholesale 
drug store in building occupied in any part 
as dwelling. The packing room must be re¬ 
mote from large stock of goods. All packing 


or combustible material must be swept up and 
placed in metal box provided for that purpose, 
and at close of business each day to be swept 
clean and sweepings put in metal box. Clean 
sand or earth deposited on floor to absorb 
accumulation of oil. Oil-soaked sand not to 
be used. No matches permitted; to be lighted 
by electricity or automatic gas burners. Nitric 
and carboys of acid to be stored on cement 
flooring. Watchman must have certificate of 
fitness issued by direction and regulation of 
Municipal Explosives Commission. 

Hay, straws, .etc., loose and unbaled, two 
thousand; baled, two tons in stables, except 
stored in buildings provided for large quan¬ 
tities, etc. 

Wholesale—Muriatic and sulphuric acid, six 
carboys in the whole; nitric, two carboys; 
carbolic, 500 pounds; picric, 10 pounds. 

Retail—Muriatic, sulphuric acids, one car¬ 
boy ; nitric, 15 pounds; ether and collodion, 

5 pounds; picric, 1 ounce. 

There must be two or more constituents by 
which interaction involve heat or gas. There 
must be an oxidizing agent and an oxidizable 
substance yielding gaseous products when ox¬ 
idized, such as gunpowder. 

Those in which only one chemical compound 
is present, such as picric, the fulminates, such 
as fulminate of mercury; keep in mind that 
is one of three means to break up compounds 
that make fire and explosion; interaction of 
the elements is another, and electricity is the 
other. 

ANS. 3:—Chimneys and flues must be lined 
on inside with iron or well-burnt clay, or with 
terra cotta made smooth or the joints strick¬ 
en smooth on inside; if not, inside pipe from 
bottom of chimney or flue to extreme height 
of same. Chimneys used for smelting pur¬ 
poses or for steam boilers shall be built dou¬ 
ble, with air space between the walls. No 
chimney will be built on wood beams, and all 
beams will be cut away from opening to 
three feet, etc.; hot-air pipes through flooring 
to be protected or to have placed on same a 
suitable metal sieve or thimble with band, 
and when so equipped to allow air space of at 
least an inch. 

All elevator shafts and hoistways will be 
enclosed in walls of brick and have self-clos¬ 
ing fireproof doors and guard rails. When 
lifts are used through flooring the doors will 
form part of safe floor surface and be made 
to open and close by the lowering or raising 
of elevator or lift. All such shafts and trap 
doors will be closed at the close of business 
each day by the owner or person having con¬ 
trol of same. 

Fireproof floors must be placed in building 
under several conditions: In apartment and 
tenement five stories in height or four and 
basement first floor. In such building six or 
more stories and having a store on first floor 
the entire second floor must also be fireproof. 

Fireproof flooring must be placed in pump 
houses attached to or placed in any licensed 
garage. Fireproof flooring for the storage 
of carboys of acid in drug stores and in the 
packing room of same and in building re¬ 
quired by law to be fireproof. The walls, 
floor and partition shall be of brick, stone, 


iron or such other approved fireproof material 
as required by the Building Department, such 
as filling in with concrete, etc., between iron 
beams up to flooring, etc., in such fireproof 
building. 

ANS. 4:—The cellar shall have floor, walls, 
ceiling and partition of stone, cement, brick, 
etc., fireproof throughout in modern tenement 
house, with outside stairways and openings 
to street and yard and no openings to the 
floor above the stairway leading to the rear 
and inclosed in walls of brick; self-closing 
fireproof doors top and bottom. Such build¬ 
ing occupied by three families, more than 35 
feet in height, must be provided with such 
good and sufficient fire escapes, stairways and 
other means of egress as may be required by 
the Building Department and by the Tene¬ 
ment House Law. No person will encumber 
any such fire escape which will have iron 
plate with raised letters to read. A person 
who obstructs the fire escape is liable to fine 
and imprisonment. Ground floor, if occupied 
by store or place where stock is kept that 
might tax or overload flooring, must have 
proper beams and supports to be protected 
by fireproof material to be approved, etc. 
The courts to be free from obstruction and 
not to be covered over. Only allow fire es¬ 
capes to project 4 feet into court; court to 
be 10 feet or 1254 feet between building, 
through from street to street. All chimneys 
and flues will be lined on inside with iron or 
well-burnt clay or terra cotta, made smooth 
from bottom or from throat of lowest fire 
place to the extreme height of chimney. All 
woodwork cut away three feet from chimney, 
and all chimney flues and fire places to be 
kept clean. 

ANS. 5:—Every newly erected building ex¬ 
ceeding 100 feet in height and not provided 
with a 3-inch standpipe, and every. building 
hereafter erected exceeding 85 feet in height 
must have a 4-inch standpipe leading, from 
cellar to roof, with a two-way 3-inch Siamese 
connection leading to the street above court 
level placed near building, with valves, and 
with 254 -inch outlet on each floor near the 
stairway, with regulation hose and nozzles 
attached, and every building from 85 and not 
exceeding 150 feet to be so equipped; and 
over 150 feet to have 6-inch standpipe, same 
connections, and if fronting on two streets to 
have a standpipe, same size, on each street. 
In such case there shall be at least one elec¬ 
tric pump and one passenger elevator for use 
day and night, including holidays and Sundays, 
by the Fire Department in case of fire. They 
shall have such other hooks, axes, extinguish¬ 
ers and other auxiliary fire appliances as may 
be directed by the Fire Commissioner; oump 
to be placed two feet above floor or. dwarf 
wall two feet high, brick and water tight to 
prevent the flow of water into ash pit; sprink¬ 
lers supplied by gravity pressure, tank on roof 
or in cellar, and pump to supply same, also 
supnlv from outside by Fire Department. 
Sprinkler system installed wet or dry lines, 
but alwavs with shut-oflf valves on each floor 
and roof. Separate connections to cellar and 
sub-cellar. 


ANS. 6:—I am of the opinion summer re¬ 
sorts consisting of buildings, construction of 
which is wood or other inflammable substance, 
limit be placed on the number to be grouped 
and a suitable brick fire (stop) wall placed 
between each designated group of such build¬ 
ings. That will guard against danger of fire 
by limiting the chance of the spread, by the 
placing of fire stop walls, which must not be 
pierced and high enough to protect each side, 
and to restrict as to height of structures and 
number between such proposed fire stop walls. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

(Received 90.00% on this subject.) 

ANS. 1:—The book of rules and regulations 
should be revised, and a committee to make 
such revision has been selected and directed 
to complete such work by the end of this year. 
There are many sections of the book which 
should be countermanded, as they have by 
special or general orders been made a dead 
issue or inoperative. The present manual will, 
when revised and corrected and added to, 
provide for all matters of rules, orders and 
regulations up to date. An amendment should 
be made to the rule giving the Chief of De¬ 
partment power to designate a member of any 
grade to temporarily fill the position of the 
next highest grade, by adding, “except that a 
Fireman will not. be detailed or designated 
to act as an Engineer of Steamer unless he 
holds license to do so, but may perform the 
duty of an Engineer in operating a high 
pressure hydrant, of which all Firemen must 
have knowledge.” 

The rule directing the members of corps 
of sappers and miners, if while working at 
a fire and their services required, they will 
be notified by signal being given by blasts 
of the whistles on engines working at fire, 
when they will report to the officer in com¬ 
mand for instructions if working at a fire in 
high pressure zone “and system not broken 
down,” no engines are present and signal 
cannot be given as stated in the rules, con¬ 
sequently it should be countermanded and 
other and better method adopted. 

And again, if rules relative to corps of 
sappers and miners are to be a part of such 
book of Rules and Regulations, the corps 
should be established in fact, and the law 
complied with; an instructor appointed with 
knowledge to drill and instruct members of 
corps, etc.—and a depot selected for the 
storage of explosives required, etc., as in 
this case it is a good law, but is not in oper¬ 
ation up to date. 

No .fixed rule should be laid down for the 
quantity of feed to be given to horses of 
department; different horses and conditions 
make it reasonable that officers and drivers 
learn their habits, etc., accordingly. 

Since the installation of motor driven or 
propelled apparatus, automobiles, etc., rules 
should be formulated for the care and hand¬ 
ling of same. 

A college has been established in the de¬ 
partment,, instruction given, and rules should 
be established making such instruction ap¬ 
ply in a uniform way. 


Many other rules should be added and 
others amended, but time will not permit 
further remarks, etc. 

ANS. 2:—Governor’s Island is a part of 
the Borough of Manhattan; a great fire on 
same in night time; respond to same with 
as many fire boats as may be necessary; call 
H. & L. Cos. to Pier A, Battery, such num¬ 
ber of companies as may appear necessary, 
taking tools, ladders of sufficient size to 
cope with a fire in buildings on the Island 
named, and if necessary request the services 
of the Municipal Ferry. 

In case of the falling in of any building 
in City of New York where persons are 
known or believed to be buried under the 
ruins, it should be the duty of the Fire De¬ 
partment to make an examination of the 
premises for the recovery of the bodies of 
the killed or injured, and for the removal 
of debris. Commissioner of Parks, High¬ 
ways, Street Cleaning and Docks confer 
with Building Department to remove same. 
Police Department also to remove the dead 
after Coroner passes upon same official 
certificate. 

Big fire on Jersey water front, etc.: Fire 
boat of our Department respond on light or 
reflection. Would go to Jersey, if requested 
to do so and orders issued, etc., to do so, 
but if responding on reflection and lives 
were in danger, I would use every effort to 
rescue and save them, but not go to work 
on warehouses in another State, except at 
stated orders from proper authority. 

This Department has an engine and a 
hose jumper on hose, etc., on Hart’s Island 
and a man detailed from Engine Co. on 
Blackwell’s Island to care for such appa¬ 
ratus. The public building on Hart’s 
Island is equipped with all the modern 
auxiliary fire appliances and alarm system, 
to which fire boats respond and other land 
companies prepare to do so if required for 
the purpose of extinguishing fires or rescue 
of inmates. 

The collapse of tents during performance 
of circus: This Department would act in 
same manner as falling buildings; make ex¬ 
amination. of same for the recovery of the 
killed or injured or bodies of same. 

ANS. 3:—Members assigned to duty or 
instruction at the School of Instruction shall 
in no case be excused from attending, ex¬ 
cept when physically unfit by reason of 
night duty, etc., and notice given to officer 
in charge of school. 

Officers and Drivers will learn the habits 
of horses, be kind and humor them, if 
nesessary; to teach them to take their places 
under poles and shafts, see that they have 
proper bits in mouth, that harness and col¬ 
lars fit and do not pinch or hurt or injure 
horses. Offiecrs will see that Drivers and 
others do their full duty to horses, care, 
feed, water, etc. 

Deputy Chiefs of Department will hold 
Chiefs of Battalion responsible for the 
prompt discharge of their duty and for the 
companies under them, both in and out of 


quarters, and report well sustained charges 
of any neglect or evasion of the bill of dress 
rule, or any law, order or direction on the 
part of such Chief of Battalion or com¬ 
panies under him. 

ANS. 4:—Every member is held responsi¬ 
ble for want of skill, judgment, neglect or 
failure on their part and by same cause loss 
of life, limb, property, etc. This is a good 
rule. It binds members to be cautious and 
to be promptly on time and to be careful 
not to leave premises where fires occur in 
such a condition that they will rekindle, and 
thereby unnecessarily jeopardize the lives, 
limbs or property. This applies to all mem¬ 
bers as well as Chiefs of Battalion. The 
fixing of responsibility and a system of 
caution will properly adjust this matter. 

The rule not permitting officers and 
members to visit Headquarters without 
permission, etc., is not a fair rule at all. 
Some favored men could go, and others not 
so favored were forbidden. Official De¬ 
partment business, the transaction of same 
with Bureaus of Department should be rea¬ 
son for such visits, etc. 

The rule to not engage in altercations is 
a good one. It prohibits and prevents mem¬ 
bers from cause for arrest, detention, etc., 
which would be absence without leave, have 
tendency to destroy efficiency, and spoil the 
record of men so engaged, both in and out 
of the Department. 

Must obey all orders cheerfully and 
promptly, which makes the efficiency im¬ 
prove by so doing, etc. 

To be guilty of deception would destroy 
the reputation of the man and tend to do 
the same to and in the Department, and to 
neglect to carry out an order of law, rule, 
etc., by evasion would break up the fire¬ 
fighting system. 


REPORT (No. 1). 

(Received 97% on this subject.) 

Fire Department, City of New York, 
Bureau, Chief of Department. 

Office, Chief of Department. 

Hon. Joseph J. Johnson, 

Fire Commissioner. 

Sir:—I have the honor to herewith sub¬ 
mit for your information report of opinion, 
recommendations, etc., relative to self-pro¬ 
pelled apparatus to replace the horse-drawn 
apparatus. 

(1) The cost of operation of motor- 
propelled apparatus is many times less than 
by horse, their keep, care and renewal. 

(2) The ‘motor-propelled apparatus, so 
far in use in this Department, has proven its 
efficiency and advantage by rapid response. 

(3) The present development of self- 
propelling apparatus for the Fire Depart¬ 
ment appears to be an improvement, and 
should add to the efficiency of the same, by 


the installation of more of such motor- 
propelled apparatus. 

(4) I am of the opinion that the future 
will develop such apparatus to a perfect 
state of efficiency and install in most of the 
companies in outlying sections. 

(5) The installation and keeping of such 
apparatus, when located in outlying sec¬ 
tions, will save the installation and or* 
ganizing of so many companies by covering 
more territory. 

(6) All factory and mill districts could 
be responded to by a water tower motor 
propelled and properly located and as¬ 
signed. 

♦ ... / , . . , „ '• 

REPORT (No. 2). 

Fire Department, City of New York. 

Headquarters, Deputy Chief Div. 

New York, July 11, 1911. 

Mr. X, 

Chief of Department. 

Sir:—I have the honor to report that the 
building, No. 400 X Street, 10 stories high, 
brick and iron, is in a dangerous and un¬ 
safe condition. The doors leading to the 
roof and to the hallway on the 8th, 9th and 
10th floors were found to be locked. The 
fire escapes are broken and unsafe. Large 
numbers of people congregate on the three 
top floors, and with almost no provision 
made as to complying with requirements as 
to auxiliary fire appliances. Should a fire 
of large magnitude occur, a great loss of 
life would be apt to follow. 

To prevent such a condition there should 
be enacted a law that will give authority to 
one head of a department to compel the 
installation of any and all necessary 
auxiliary fire appliances, fire doors, fire 
escapes, stairways and such other means of 
egress as to insure escape in case of fire 
and to have power to cause premises to be 
vacated for failure to comply with such 
regulations as may be required by the per¬ 
son so authorized. 

Periodical inspections should be made by 
ample force of Inspectors, and such 
auxiliary inspections should be supervised 
by a competent Engineer. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
CHIEF. 

Fire Department. 

Date: December 22, 1899. 

(NOTE:—These are the questions which 
Chief Croker had to answer in the examin¬ 
ation in which he was the only competitor. 
So many and important have been the 
changes in the years that have elapsed that 
present day examinations for Lieutenant are 
far more difficult.) 


209 




DICTATION. 

(Simple Dictation of About 95 Words.) 
RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

1. How is the uniformed force of the 
Fire Department constituted, and what are 
the duties of all the various members? An¬ 
swer fully. 

2. What is the House Watch; its tours 
of duty, and its duties and its responsi¬ 
bilities? 

3. What are the rules and regulations as 
regards theaters? And what are the duties 
of the Firemen detailed for theater service? 

4. Upon what grounds may charges be 
preferred against members of the uniformed 
force? To whom are these charges made 
and by whom may they be preferred? 

5. Explain the working of the Fire De¬ 
partment: (1) Upon the sounding of a first 
alarm; (2) Upon the sounding of each suc¬ 
cessive alarm that may be sent in there¬ 
after; (3) Explain as fully as possible, not 
omitting to tell the work and disposition 
of the men upon the sounding of the alarms, 
and while going to and fighting the fire. 
Also account for that part of the service 
not actually called out. 

LOCALITIES. 

1. Give your opinion, from a Fireman’s 
point of view, on the following buildings, 
with reasons and necessary explanation: 
(a) Grand Union Hotel; (b) Holland 
House; (c) University Club, 54th Street and 
Fifth Avenue; (d) Manhattan Club, 26th 
Street and Madison Avenue; (e) Metropoli¬ 
tan Opera House. 

2. Have any fires within the past five 
years taught any lessons with regard to 
so-called “fireproof construction”? If so, 
state fully your conclusions and the 
grounds on which they are based. 

3. What new problems have been pre¬ 
sented to the Fire Department by the erec¬ 
tion of “skyscrapers,” and how have they 
been met? 

4. State the “fire limits” in the different 
boroughs, so far as there are any, and give 
your opinion as to whether, and if so, to 
what extent, they should be extended. 

5. Name five blocks and ten buildings of 
different kinds where fires would probably 
be attended with great risk of loss of life 
or property, with reasons and explanations. 

6. State specifically the dangers to be ap¬ 
prehended from putting a trolley wire on 
the elevated railroad. 


LAW. 

1. (a) How may a member of the uni¬ 
formed force be disciplined; (b) For what 
offense; (c) What Official has jurisdiction; 

(d) How are the rights of the accused safe¬ 
guarded? 

2. (a) What Officials of the Department, 
besides the Commission, are vested with 
quasi-judicial functions; (b) Over what 

210 


matters have they jurisdiction; (c) How 
may their precepts be enforced; and (d) 
What extraordinary police powers do they 
possess? 

3. (a) Who has the authority to order the 
destruction of buildings in case of fire; (b) 
Under what circumstances may he exercise 
it, and (c) What redress have the owners? 

4. Explain fully the mutual relations ex¬ 
isting between the Fire and the Police De¬ 
partments. 

5. What are the provisions of law in re¬ 
gard to the storing or keeping of pertain 
inflammable vegetable products within the 
City of New York? 

6. What political restrictions are imposed 
by law upon members of the uniformed 
force; and what, in your opinion, is the 
object of such provisions? 

7. State fully the effect of five days’ un¬ 
explained absence on the part of a mem¬ 
ber of the uniformed force? 

8. What is the purpose of badges and 
other insignia of office and members of the 
Department, and how is their use safe¬ 
guarded by law? 

9. (a) What are the essential elements of 
the crime of arson in the first degree; (b) 
Under what circumstances may an attempt 
at arson result in murder in the first de¬ 
gree? 


Civil Service Commission of Philadelphia. 

CHIEF ENGINEER. 

Bureau of Fire Department of Public 
Safety. 

Date: 1914. 

ADMINISTRATION, EQUIPMENT 
AND METHODS OF FIRE DE¬ 
PARTMENTS IN CITIES 
GENERALLY. 

Weight 4. 

1. You are attending a second alarm fire 
at the Puritan Knitting Mills, Arch Street, 
west of Third, at which a full complement 
of apparatus is at work. You receive word 
that box No. 26, at Eighth and Market 
Streets, has been pulled, and that on the 
arrival of the first company at that box they 
find a fire at Rust’s Cabine and Mill Work 
Factory, on the south side of Ludlow 
Street, just below Eighth Street. The fire 
started on the first floor and spread 
throughout the entire building. An intense 
heat was generated, which set fire to the 
buildings on the opposite side of Ludlow 
Street, and then driven by a strong wind 
from the southeast jumped across Eighth 
Street to Gimbel’s Store. You immediately 
go to the second fire. On your arrival you 
find that the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth 
and ninth floors of Gimbel’s are on fire. 
At the first you had 150 pounds pressure 
on the high-pressure main and were draw¬ 
ing from said main 3,000 gallons of water 



per minute. What action would you take 
on your arma 1 at the second fire, what 
additional apparatus would you summon, 
what hydrants would you use, and where 
would you place your lines? Give ap¬ 
proximately the number of gallons from 
the high-pressure main which you would 
use, assuming that you are using l^-inch 
nozzle on all street lines with an average 
pressure of 80 pounds at each nozzle, and 
l/4~inch nozzle on all roof and inside lines 
with an average pressure of 60 pounds. 

2. A fire breaks out in the 20th floor of 
the new Land Title Building. There is a 
4-inch standpipe in the eastern end of the 
building, extending from the cellar to the 
roof, with 2^-inch outlets on each floor. 
There is a regular Siamese connection at 
the sidewalk level. You require a pressure 
of 60 pounds to the square inch at the valve 
outlet on the 20th floor. A high-pressure 
hydrajit is about 100 feet distant from the 
Siamese connection and you stretch a 
couple of lengths of hose to the connection. 
What pressure would you require at the 
hydrant in order to get the required 60 
pounds of pressure at the valve outlet on 
the 20th floor? 

3. A fire broke out on the second floor of 
a six-story apartment house which had out¬ 
side balcony fire escapes. The fire burned 
through to the stairs and up the stair well. 
On your arrival you find the fire escapes 
crowded with excited people. Explain your 
action in relation to the orders you would 
give the engine and hook and ladder com¬ 
panies. 

4. What particular dangers must Firemen 
look out for at fires in: 

(a) Flour mills; 

(b) Drug houses; 

(c) Garages? 

5. You are in command at a fire at a 
cold storage plant in which the pure am¬ 
monia system is used. What precautions 
would you take and what use would you 
make of your hook and ladder companies? 

6. What means may be used to best ad¬ 
vantage to obtain a knowledge of the build¬ 
ings where fires might occur, as well as to 
prevent fires? State the advantages of your 
plan and answer the possible objections. 

7. If you had ample funds to fulfill all 
reasonable demands for a new fire house 
for an engine or hook and ladder company, 
what suggestions would you make for the 
plan of the building and what equipment 
should be placed in the building to bring it 
up to modern practice? 

8. In your opinion, where is such a fire 
house needed in Philadelphia? Why? 

9. What should be the next extension of 
the high-pressure fire system? Why? 

10. Could the spirit and discipline of the 
force be improved? If so, how? 

11. What reasons would lead you to 
transfer members of the force from one 
station to another? What reasons would 
lead you to refuse to make such transfers 
if required? 

12. Write four reports addressed to 
President Frank M. Ritter, Civil Service 


Commission, Philadelphia, on the following 
subjects: 

(1) Motor apparatus as compared with 
horse-drawn apparatus from the standpoint 

(a) Reliability; 

(b) Economy of operation. 

(2) An explanation of the fundamental 
parts of 

(?) A reciprocating fire pump; 

(b) A rotary fire pump; 

(c) A centrifugal fire pump. 

(3) What points of excellence does a 
steam-driven pump have over a gasoline 
pump, or vice versa? 

(4) The improvements in the fire service 
in the United States during the past ten 
years. 

JUDGMENT AND PERSONALITY 
(ORAL)—EXPERIENCE SHEET 
FOR FIRE SERVICE. 

Weight 3. 

1. Give the names and addresses of two 
reputable citizens who will vouch for the 
truth of your answers on this paper. 

2. What is your age? 

3. What schools (names and places) did 
you attend? If you did not finish Gram¬ 
mar School, what was the highest reader 
you studied? How far did you go in arith¬ 
metic (fractions, decimals, practical meas¬ 
urements, percentage or interest)? If you 
attended High School or any other school 
after leaving Grammar School, state where 
and how long, and what course you pur¬ 
sued. 

4. When did you enter the Fire Depart¬ 
ment? Have you been out of the Fire De¬ 
partment any time since you entered? If 
so, why? What did you do during that 
time? Have you ever been suspended, or 
demoted? When, why, and how long? 

5. Give in order the positions you have 
held, with dates and length of service in 
each and the districts served in, since you 
entered the Fire Department. 

Have you ever served in any other organ¬ 
ization of military or fire character? When, 
where and how long? When were you dis¬ 
charged? 

6. Give in order any positions you have 
held before entering the Fire Department, 
with the names and addresses of your em¬ 
ployers; character of business; length and 
dates of your employment; duties of your 
position, and salary received in each case. 

7. If you have been in business for your¬ 
self, state the nature of the business, how 
long, and the average yearly income. 

8. Give the names and addresses of three 
citizens whom you are willing to have con¬ 
sulted as references. 

ORAL. 

1. What suggestions have you for the 
improvement of the laws governing build¬ 
ing operations and tending to promote the 
safety of life and property? 


211 


2. What suggestions have you to make 
to the Civil Service Commission with re¬ 
spect to the improvement of the original en¬ 
trance requirements for the position of 
Hoseman? 

3. What is your idea as to the advantages 
or disadvantages of detailing uniformed 
men for service at theaters as compared 
with the use of the regular civilian em¬ 
ployees of the theaters for this purpose? 

4. A series of four large photographs of 
buildings and surroundings was exhibited 
to each competitor, and he was told the cir¬ 
cumstances of the supposed fire in each 
case and asked how he would fight the fire 
under the given conditions. 

The first photograph concerned the prob¬ 
lem of keeping the fire in the basement and 
first-story extension and preventing it from 


getting to the second or third floor front 
of the building. 

The second photograph was of a loft 
building used as sweatshops with a vio¬ 
lent fire on the second floor and was con¬ 
cerned with the manner of holding the fire 
away from the fire escapes, so that the em¬ 
ployees on the upper floors might be res¬ 
cued. 

The third photograph was concerned 
with a fire in the second story front of a 
modern double apartment building, in 
which the candidate had to take into con¬ 
sideration the light wells in the center of 
the building. 

The fourth photograph showed a clothing 
store in which a fire had occurred and was 
concerned with the method and care that 
the candidate would use in “overhauling” 
the contents. 


FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH BUREAU EXAMINATION 
QUESTIONS FOR SUPERINTENDENT, INSPEC¬ 
TOR OF FIRE ALARM BOXES, AND TELE¬ 
GRAPH OPERATOR, N. Y. CITY, N. Y. 

STATE AND NEW JERSEY. 


New Jersey Civil Service Com’n. 

SUPERINTENDENT. 

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. 

(This was held either in Newark or Jer¬ 
sey City.) 

Subjects of examination and relative 
weights: Experience, 8; Duties, 5; Practi¬ 
cal test, 2. 

EXPERIENCE. 

This will cover a general examination on 
the past experience and education of the 
applicant. 

DUTIES. 

1. What is a closed metallic circuit, and 
why are such circuits principally used in 
fire alarm telegraphy? 

2. What dangers are liable to occur if a 
fire alarm has grounds, or escapes, or short 
circuits? 

3. In case a fire alarm circuit became 
broken, how would you temporarily restore 
the circuit to service without splicing? 

4. What is a volt; an ohm; an ampere? 

5. Given the voltage and amperage of a 
circuit, how would you ascertain its resist¬ 
ance? 

6. State Ohm’s laws. 

7. What is a megohm? 

8. What is a condenser, and for what pur¬ 
pose is it used? 


9. Describe generally the apparatus used 
in a manual fire alarm central office and the 
principles upon which they operate. 

10. Describe generally* the mechanism of 
a standard fire alarm box, and how it oper¬ 
ates to transmit its signal. 

11. What is the difference between a plain 
and a non-interfering fire alarm box? 

12. What is meant by an electro-mechan¬ 
ical gong, and how does it differ from a di¬ 
rect action gong? 

13. Describe the difference between a 
main and a local battery, and state why 
both are used in fire alarm telegraph work. 

14. What amount of battery is used on 
the main and local circuits in fire alarm 
work? 

15. What instruments are used to detect 
grounds and escapes on fire alarm circuits? 

16. Why should fire alarm lines be kept 
clear of line troubles at all times? 

17. Describe a manual transmitter, and 
for what purposes is it used. 

18. Describe a joker transmitter, and state 
why it is used. 

19. In case either or both of these instru¬ 
ments are disabled, how would you trans¬ 
mit the alarm signals? 

20. In case two or more box alarms were 
received at the same time, how would you 
dispose of them? 

21. What fire alarm apparatus is usually 
used in fire department houses and how do 
they operate? 

22. By what means are storage batteries 
charged? 


212 




23. What is a wheatstone bridge, and de¬ 
scribe its use. Give a diagram of the elec¬ 
trical connections of a wheatstone bridge to 
measure the resistance of electrical con¬ 
ductor. 

24. What is a motor generator, and for 
what purpose is it used in lire alarm tele¬ 
graph work? 

25. What is a relay? 

26. What is a polarized relay? 

27. What is an open circuit? A closed 
circuit? 

28. What is induction? 

29. What elements does a storage battery 
consist of? 

30. What is the electrolyte of a storage 
battery composed of? 


N. Y. State Civil Service Com’n. 
SUP’T OF FIRE ALARM. 

Portchester. 

Date: June 17, 1911. 

1. What systems of alarms are in com¬ 
mon use? Describe their peculiar features. 

2. What source of current is used, and at 
what voltage? 

3. Explain by description and diagram 
the mechanism in the street box which 
causes the proper number of strokes to be 
sounded from that box. 

4. How is the location of a “crossed wire” 
determined? 

5. What provision in the system prevents 
alarms from two or more boxes from be¬ 
ing sent in at the same time? 

6. Give a statement of Ohm’s Law, ex¬ 
plaining its application to the computation 
of electric circuits. 

7. Explain the construction and the meth¬ 
od of connecting up an ammeter; a watt¬ 
meter. What is meant by inductance and 
how is it produced? Give the same infor¬ 
mation with respect to capacity in electric 
circuits. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’ii, N. Y. 
INSPECTOR OF FIRE ALARM BOXES. 

Date: June 18, 1915. 

TECHNICAL—Weight 3. 

Candidates will answer briefly ten, and 
ten only, questions out of the eleven below. 

(To be finished by P. M.) 

1. (a) Explain how you could determine 
the electrostatic capacity of a cable; (b) Ex¬ 
plain how you could determine the insu¬ 
lation resistance of a cable; (c) Ex¬ 
plain how you could determine the dielec¬ 
tric strength of cable insulation. 

2. Assume a cross having resistance to ex¬ 
ist in a two-wire cable or between the two 


wires of a pair, explain how you could lo¬ 
cate the position of the cross, assuming you 
know the size of the wires. 

3. (a) How can you determine the resist¬ 
ance of machine insulation, using only a 
voltmeter and a source of potential? (b) 
Describe the construction of a D. C. Weston 
voltmeter, and explain how the same instru¬ 
ment could be arranged for use as an am¬ 
meter of different capacities. 

4. (a) Give diagram of connections em¬ 
ployed in operating a shunt motor; explain 
function of each piece of apparatus, (b) 
Show how you would connect up a shunt 
generator for storage battery charging; put 
in each necessary piece of equipment and ex¬ 
plain its function. 

5. How do you determine if a lead stor¬ 
age battery is fully charged? How do you 
determine if the same is discharged? How 
is the capacity of a lead storage battery in¬ 
fluenced by high discharge rate; for instance, 
if it is good for 20 amperes per hour for 
eight hours, what will be its one-hour rate? 

6. (a) A coil of copper wire of 1,000 turns 
of mean diameter of 24 inches has 12.6 ohms 
resistance; what size B & S wire is it made 
up of? 

(b) A wire measures about .102 inch in 
diameter; what gauge is it? 

(c) Why is copper wire preferable to iron 
or aluminum for electric power transmis¬ 
sion? 

(d) Why should the two wires. of a cir¬ 
cuit, if employed for telephonic on a. c. 
power transmission, be placed in the same 
duct? 

(e) Why is it advisable to use twisted 
pairs or to transpose lines for telephone cir¬ 
cuits? 

7. (a) Give a simple diagram of connec¬ 
tions of a series of “plain” street boxes and 
central station equipment; explain how the 
system is arranged to signal the location 
from which alarm is sent, (b) Why is the 
closed circuit system preferable for alarm 
and telegraph circuits? 

8. (a) Explain what is meant by an “in¬ 
terlaced” system, by a non-interference box, 
and by a succession box. (b) What is meant 
by a marginal relay, by a polarized relay, by 
a biased bell? 

9. Give diagram of connections of a sub¬ 
scriber’s telephone equipment operating on 
a local battery circuit; explain function of 
each part. 

10. (a) Explain the construction of a 
Wheatstone bridge, and assuming you had 
a circuit of about 1,000 ohms resistance, how 
would you connect up the bridge to deter¬ 
mine the same? (b) Why is a Wheatstone 
bridge unsatisfactory for the measurement 
of low resistances? How would you under¬ 
take to measure a very low resistance? 

11. List the difficulties or troubles which 
may occur to a street signal box and circuit, 
and state by what test or tests you could 

locate the same. 


213 




Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

TELEGRAPH OPERATOR. 

Fire Department. 

Date: February 10, 1914. 

NOTE:—The practical test was under the 
direction of the Traffic Chief of the West¬ 
ern Union Telegraph Co. The Morse Code 
was used. There was a complete fire alarm 
system installed at one end of the room, 
and 8 telegraph sounders at the other end 
of the room. Candidates were required to 
receive ordinary signals and then signals 
with the sound confused. The test was of 
one hour’s duration. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES. 

The practical test will consist of four (4) 
parts: 

(a) Copying a message of about 200 
words of ordinary matter at low speed. 

(b) Copying three short messages at in¬ 
creasingly high speed. 

(c) Taking down fire alarm numerical 
signals from the fire alarm telegraphic ap¬ 
paratus. 

(d) Taking down fire alarm numerical 
given spontaneously from box sounder, a 
bell and a buzzer. 

Test (a): The message will be sounded 
simultaneously throughout the room; can¬ 
didates will copy it as understood and will 
be allowed five minutes after its comple¬ 
tion for rest and making alterations. 

Test (b): Each of the three short mes¬ 
sages will be sounded and you have a brief 
period also allowed for rest and correction 
before taking the next one. 

Test (c): Write down the fire alarm sig¬ 
nals as fast as they are sounded. 

Test (d): Candidates are required to read 
the signal given from the alarm box and 
pay no attention to the simultaneous sig¬ 
nals from the bell and buzzer. 

Candidates will intelligently, clearly and 
distinctly write their copy of each test, 
making them as above. No signal or mes¬ 
sage will be repeated. 

TECHNICAL. 

Weight 8. 

The written test is of equal weight with 
the practical. 

1. State briefly what Ohm’s law is and how 
it is used. 

2. Whether the 8 (4 ohms each) sounders 
are connected in series or in parallel, what 
difference will the two arrangements make in 
the number, and connection, of storage bat¬ 
tery cells of the ordinary type to operate 
them? 

3. What is the purpose of a relay and what 
are its connections in a circuit? 

4. What is meant by a “closed” circuit? 
Where is it used? What is meant by an 

open” circuit? Where is it used? How is 


a “ground circuit” made? What is its pur¬ 
pose and advantage? 

5. How is the Wheatstone bridge used in 
testing circuits; breaks; grounds; “opens”? 
When a bridge is said to be “balanced,” what 
does it mean? 

6. State the volts and amperes that may be 
obtained from a dry battery; from a gravity 
cell; from a storage unit? 

7. Indicate by sketch the wiring for the fire 
alarm box storage battery, recording tape, 
gong, relay and key by which all will operate 
simultaneously (like the outfit on the display 
test board). 

8. Suppose, while you were on the platform 
at headquarters, a message is received that an 
automobile had broken a post and opened a 
number of circuits. State what your order to 
the lineman would be. Or, if you were a 
lineman and found it, how would you make 
the repairs in the absence of further orders? 

9. DO NOT SIGN ANY NAME, NUM¬ 
BER, INITIALS OR TITLE TO THIS RE¬ 
PORT OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALI¬ 
FIED. 

Write out a brief report of an accident to 
the terminal fire alarm box-post such as indi¬ 
cated in the above question, and include all 
information desired by your superiors in plac¬ 
ing the blame, or assessing for damages. 

10. Describe the way connections are made 
from conduits to box on the lamp-post. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

PROMOTION TO TELEGRAPH 
OPERATOR. 

Fire Department. 

Date: April 18, 1911. 

1. What is meant by the term “normally 
closed circuit” ? 

2. What is meant by the term “normally 
opened circuit”? 

3. In the New York fire alarm telegraph 
system are the signal box circuits normally 
open or normally closed? 

4. Why is this type of circuit so used? 

5. What are the essential parts of a fire 
alarm box? 

6. What is an “interfering” fire alarm box? 

7. What is a “non-interfering and succes¬ 
sive” fire alarm box? 

8. What is a “non-interfering” fire alarm 
box? 

9. What is an auxiliarized fire alarm box? 

10. How does a fire alarm box, when it is 
operated, cause its signal to be transmitted to 
the central office? 

. U. What apparatus is connected to a box 
circuit in the central office? 

12. Describe what each of the above-named 
pieces of apparatus is for. 

13. How are signals, which have been re¬ 
ceived at the central office, transmitted to 
company houses, and over how many cir¬ 
cuits? 

14. What are these circuits called and what 
apparatus is connected to each of them in the 
central office? 


214 



15. What apparatus is connected to each of 
them in the company houses? 

16. If a second or greater alarm, or a spe¬ 
cial call, was received at the central office, 
what answering signal would you transmit 
over the box circuit, and how would you 
transmit it? 

17. If you were in doubt as to the identity 
of such special signal, what signal would you 
send back over the box circuit? 

18. If the transmitter in the central office 
should break down, or stop from any cause 
during its transmission of signal, what would 
you do? 

19. If. you received a fifth alarm from a 
box which did not have a fifth alarm assign¬ 
ment, what would you do? 

20. If you received a telephone message 
from a citizen that a fire was in progress in 
his house at a certain address, what would 
you do? 

21. If an automatic signal was received, to 
which a certain engine company was assigned, 
and if that engine company was out of quar¬ 
ters, what would you do? 

22. If you received two alarms at the same 
time, from immediately adjoining boxes, would 
you transmit both of them to the company 
houses? 

23. If you received a street box alarm, to 
which certain companies were assigned on 
first alarm, and all of those companies were 
out of quarters, what would you do? 

24. If you received notice from the Brook¬ 
lyn central office that the companies due at 
Station 149 in the Borough of Manhattan were 
required at Station 125 in the Borough of 
Brooklyn, what signal would you transmit 
over the Manhattan wires? 

25. If you received a street box alarm, and 
the truck companies assigned to respond to 
it were out of quarters, what would you do? 

26. If a box circuit “opened,” how would 
you know it and what would you do? 

27. How would you test a circuit for 
grounds ? 

28. If a box circuit should “open” and the 
break was located between two boxes, how 
could the circuit be restored? 


New Jersey Civil Service Com’n. 

OPERATOR. 

Fire Alarm Telegraph. 

Subjects of examination and relative 
weights : Experience, 4; duties, 4; practical 
test, 2. 


EXPERIENCE. 

This will cover a general examination on 
the past experience and education of the ap¬ 
plicant. 


DUTIES. 

1. What is an open circuit? 

2. What is a closed circuit? 

3. What is a closed metallic circuit, and 
why are such circuits principally used in fire 
alarm telegraph work? 

4. What dangers are liable to occur if a 
fire alarm circuit has ground escapes and short 
circuits? 

5. Given the voltage and the amperage on 
a circuit, how would you ascertain its resis¬ 
tance ? 

6. State Ohm's laws. 

7. What is a megohm? 

8. What is a condenser, and for what pur¬ 
pose is it used? 

9. In case a fire alarm circuit became brok¬ 
en, how would you temporarily restore the 
line to service without splicing? 

10. Give a general description of the appar¬ 
atus in use in a Manual Fire Alarm Central 
Office, and the principles upon which they 
operate. 

11. Describe in a general way the mechan¬ 
ism of a standard fire alarm box, and how it 
operates to transmit its signal. 

12. Describe the difference between a plain 
fire alarm box and a non-interfering box. 

13. What is a main, and what is a local 
battery? Why are both used in fire alarm 
work? 

14. What amount of current is used on a 
main line fire alarm circuit, and also on a 
local battery circuit, in fire alarm work? 

15. Describe the difference between a pri¬ 
mary battery and a storage battery. 

16. What is a galvanometer, and for what 
purpose is it used? 

17. What is a relay? Describe its use and 
construction. 

18. What, is a polar relay, and for what 
purpose is it used? 

19. What is a rheostat? What is a volt; 
an ampere; an ohm? 

20. In case two or more box alarms were 
received at the same time, how would you 
dispose of them? 


215 



FIRE PREVENTION EXAMINATIONS. 



Answers to Examination Questions and Specimen Ques¬ 
tions for Fire Prevention Inspector, Chief Examiner 
Fire Prevention, Deputy Chief Fire Prevention, 
Assistant Inspector of Combustibles, Oil 
Surveyor and Fire Drill Expert. 

— 


Municipal Civil Service Commission, N. Y. 

FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTOR. 

Bureau of Fire Prevention, New York Fire 
Department. 

(Open-Competitive.) 

Date : December 26, 1912. 

By SAMUEL ROSENBLUM, B. S., C. E., 

Former Chief Examiner, Fire Prevention 
Bureau, New York. 

Ques. 1:—Outline a set of instructions 


for a fire drill in a clothing factory. The 
factory is situated in a non-fireproof five- 
story building, having a staircase and a sin¬ 
gle elevator at the north and at the south 
ends of the building, and fire escapes at the 
west. It employs about three hundred 
women and girls. 

ANS.:—A fire drill should be so manipu¬ 
lated that all the occupants of the building 
will be able to vacate the premises in an or¬ 
derly manner in the least possible time, in 
case of panic, fire or emergency. These drills 
should be held weekly without notice, and at 
different hours, so as to familiarize the em¬ 
ployees with all the exits. The instructions 
should be posted in all parts of the premises 
and all the employees should understand them 
thoroughly. 

The employees on the various floors should 
be divided into squads, the sizes depending on 
the capacity of each exit. In forming these 
squads, it would be well to place the women 
and girls in the squads that will use the stair¬ 
ways and elevators, as it would be more diffi¬ 
cult for the females to escape by means of the 
fire escapes. Of course, all the women may 
not be able to use the stairways and elevators, 
especially if the majority of the employees are 
female. Where an emergency exists and the 
elevators are in working order, they should 
be used as a means of escape, and the eleva¬ 
tor attendants should be instructed to take 
cars immediately upon the sound of the alarm 
to the floor indicated by the alarm, and hold 
themselves in readiness for order. Elevators, 
however, are not to be considered as a regu¬ 
lar exit. 

Each of the above squads should be in 
charge of a monitor or captain, over whom 
will be the head captain of the floor. The 
employees must obey implicitly the orders 
of the head captain, as very often the loca¬ 
tion of the fire may require a sudden change 
in the plans. The routine method, however, 
should be deviated from as little as possible. 
The head captain for the floor should desig¬ 
nate certain employees whose duty it shall be 


to take charge of the fire appliances on the 
floor for the purpose of retarding or extin¬ 
guishing the fire. 

The entire drill should be supervised by 
a chief, whom we may term the Chief of 
the Fire Drill. This person should be one 
whose position will command respect and one 
whom all the employees will obey. He will 
designate the floor captains, usually the man¬ 
agers or superintendents for that particular 
floor, who in turn will designate the squad 
captains from amongst the men, choosing such 
employees as can be relied upon. 

The Chief of the Fire Drill will fix the 
time for holding drills and discipline those 
who fail to fully observe all the rules and 
requirements. The Chief will see that there 
is sufficient aisle space to permit quick ac¬ 
cess in reaching all of the exits. 

He will select stairway guards, inspectors, 
and what may be termed the medical squad. 
The stairway guards, two from each floor, 
should be stationed at the head and foot of 
each _ flight of stairs, or the corresponding 
position at the other exits, and should see 
that the descent down the stairway is orderly, 
without crowding, and at uniform speed. 

They must be especially watchful of per¬ 
sons stumbling or falling, to prevent tramp¬ 
ling, and should have authority to keep the 
line in motion or retard same, as may be 
necessary. 

Where the stairs are poorly lighted or have 
sharp bends, additional guards should be pro¬ 
vided as required. 

The inspector chosen from the fire appli¬ 
ance squad must examine each morning the 
condition of all stairways, fire escapes, etc., 
and report to the Chief any obstructions found 
or any unusual conditions. His duty is also 
to see that all the doors to the exits open 
outwardly. 

The fire escapes must be examined, during 
the winter months, to see that there are no 
accumulations of ice or snow. 

An examination of the fire alarm system 
and signaling devices and any other appli¬ 
ances used in the drill should be made. 

The medical squad will search for those 
who have fainted or fallen, or are otherwise 
incapacitated during the drill. 

At the receipt of the alarm of fire, which 
should be distinctive from any other bells or 
gongs used on the premises, all employees 
should immediately drop all work, and remove 
all portable articles from the aisles. Then they 
should assemble into the various squads pre¬ 
viously arranged, form into double files with 
arms linked, and at the proper signal proceed 
in a rapid but orderly manner to such exit as 
has been assigned to each squad. The women 
and girls should use their free hand to raise 


216 



their skirts to prevent tripping those in the 
immediate rear. 

At the first signal of alarm, one person, 
designated previously, should turn in the alarm 
to Fire Headquarters. 

During the progress of the drill, the squads 
previously mentioned should perform the du¬ 
ties assigned to them. Upon reaching the 
street the line should be led away to a safe 
distance, so as to prevent any crowding or 
confusion around the exit. The floor cap¬ 
tain of the nearest street floor will perform 
this duty of leading the line away from the 
building. 

All drills must be conducted in silence, save 
for the orders issued by the various command¬ 
ing officers. It would be well to practice 
these drills at the close of business, so that 
the employees may be dismissed through the 
drill exits and thus familiarize themselves 
with the same. 

For the purpose of sounding the alarm, 
the factory should be equipped with an elec¬ 
trically operated alarm system, connected with 
gongs on each floor of a size suitable to be 
heard above the noise of the machinery. The 
engineer of the factory, as soon as the alarm 
is rung, should shut off all power to the ma¬ 
chines, etc., except where it affects the oper¬ 
ation of the fire pumps, elevators or the light¬ 
ing system. 

By a careful observance of these rules, 
which should be posted in the respective lan¬ 
guages of the employees, and by continual 
practice, the fire drill will reach a high degree 
of efficiency. 

Ques. 2:—In a fireproof building, 18 stor¬ 
ies high, what examination would you make 
in order to secure the best possible safe¬ 
guard against the loss of life and property 
with respect to: (a) FToor and Floor Areas; 

(b) Elevator Shafts, Dumbwaiters and 
other Vertical Openings; (c) Boiler Rooms; 
(d) Interior Fireproofing? 

ANS.:—(a) The best possible safeguard 
against loss of life and property with respect 
to floor and floor areas is to sub-divide such 
areas into smaller units by means of fireproof 
walls or partitions. These walls should have 
sufficient openings, so that all the occupants 
can pass readily and safely from one side to 
the other, and all such openings should be 
protected by self-closing fireproof doors. In 
this manner a horizontal means of escape is 
provided, and it is but necessary to traverse 
a short distance in case of fire, and be com¬ 
pletely separated from the fire by a fireproof 
wall. The occupants can then proceed down 
the stairways without worrying that the build¬ 
ing is on fire, or that may not even be neces¬ 
sary, as the dividing wall practically makes a 
separate building. 

By sub-dividing the floors into smaller units, 
with fireproof partitions between them, a fire, 
once originating, is confined to the locality 
where it has started, and thus the property 
damage is considerably decreased. 

The Fire Department is better able to cope 
with a fire that is so localized, and hold the 
same in check and prevent its spread to the 
remainder of the building. 


(b) Vertical openings of any kind, whether 
elevator shafts, dumbwaiters, vent shafts, etc., 
present a considerable hazard, as they offer 
an excellent means of communication for a 
fire and enable the same to spread to other 
portions of the building and “mushroom” out 
on the various floors. Therefore all such 
openings should be enclosed in walls of brick 
or with a suitable framework of iron and 
burnt clay filling or of such other fireproof 
material or form of construction as may be 
approved. The various openings on the dif¬ 
ferent floors should be protected by self-clos¬ 
ing fireproof doors. The nature of the en¬ 
closing walls will depend largely on the size 
of the shaftway and the number of floors 
through which it passes. 

(c) Boiler rooms should be separated from 
the remainder of the building by fireproof 
walls and the entrances to the same protected 
by fireproof doors. The best way to construct 
the same would be to have the entrances to 
the boiler room from the outside of the build¬ 
ing, and no communications from the boiler 
rooms to the building proper. 

If the boiler room connects with the interior 
of the building, and the boilers are located 
in the cellar or lowest story of the building, 
there must be iron stairs or stationary iron 
ladders from said room to manhole above on 
the sidewalk or other outside exit. 

Provision should also be made as to the 
disposition of the ashes, and same should not 
be allowed to accumulate or be placed near 
combustible material. 

Iron cans with covers should be provided 
for the ashes. 

(d) For structures over 12 stories or more 
than 150 feet in height, such as the building 
under discussion, all floor surfaces must be of 
stone, cement, rock, asphalt, tiling or similar 
incombustible material, or the sleepers and 
floors may be of wood, treated by some proc¬ 
ess approved by the Bureau of Fire Preven 
tion to render the same fireproof. 

All outside window frames and sash must 
be of metal or of wood covered with metal, 
while inside window frames and sash, doors, 
trim and other interior finish may be of 
wood covered with metal, or of wood 
treated by some process approved by the 
Bureau of Fire Prevention to render the 
same fireproof. 

All hall partitions or permanent partitions 
between rooms in this building must be built 
of fireproof material and must not be started 
on wood sills nor on wooden floor boards, but 
must be built upon the fireproof construction 
of the floor and extend to the fireproof beam 
filling above. The tops of all doors and win¬ 
dow openings in such partitions must be at 
least 12 inches below the ceiling line. 

Ques. 3:—Describe in detail the precau¬ 
tions that should be taken by the public au¬ 
thorities to prevent the spread of fires to 
dwelling houses from (a) lumber yards; (b) 
chemical works; (c) piano factories; (d) 
distilleries; (e) flour mills, should a fire 
start in any of the places mentioned. 

ANS.:—To prevent the spread of fire to 
adjoining property the following precautions 
would aid materially: 


217 




(a) Lumber Yards.—Provide a wall sub¬ 
stantially built of brick, concrete or other 
fire-resisting material, to a height not ex¬ 
ceeding 18 feet above the street level and 
fitted with self-closing fireproof doors. 

The lumber should not be piled to a height 
greater than 6 inches below the top of the 
enclosing wall, and should not be piled with¬ 
in 4 feet of any window in an adjoining 
building. 

It should be piled so as to leave sufficient 
jaisle space, so that every portion of the yard 
can be reached readily in case of fire. 

A sufficient length of hose to reach all parts 
of the yard should be installed, and same 
should be connected to an adequate water sup¬ 
ply under pressure. 

If the yard is too large for one hose sta¬ 
tion, more should be installed, so that a fire 
may quickly be brought under control. 

If premises are not very large, a few bar¬ 
rels of water, with water buckets, will stop an 
incipient blaze. 

(b) Chemical Works.—All the chemicals 
should be so stored that one will not increase 
the energy of decomposition of the other, and 
they should be separated so that one will not 
react with the other and become explosive or 
inflammable. Acids should be provided with 
safety catch-basins or other equivalent device, 
so that in case of the leakage of the containers 
of such acids, the same will not react with 
each other and become inflammable. If oils 
or liquids should be stored on the premises, 
the carboys of said acids should be stored 
only on brick, concrete or asphalt floors, and 
in a vault situated below the street level. 

No sawdust, hay, excelsior, any organic 
substance, or other acids or chemicals should 
be stored in close proximity to such carboys 
of nitric acid. 

To absorb waste liquids from the floors 
some sand or infusorial earth should be pro¬ 
vided. Volatile inflammable oils or liquids 
should be stored in safety containers. All 
empty barrels or drums from which volatile 
inflammable oils, etc., have been taken, should 
not be stored on the premises, but should be 
removed as soon as possible. In no case 
should they be stored more than 24 hours. 
The packing room floor should be kept as 
free as possible from hay, excelsior and other 
combustible packing material during work 
hours. 

At the close of each day tables, floors and 
all parts of the packing room should be swept 
clean of all such materials, and the sweepings 
gathered into a metal box or other proper 
receptacle, which should be kept closed at 
night. A metal-lined box or fireproof recep¬ 
tacle should be provided for all combustible 
packing materials. No broken wood, waste 
paper or waste packing material should be 
allowed to accumulate. 

The premises should be lighted by incan¬ 
descent electric lights. All electrical appli¬ 
ances, such as dynamos, motors, should be 
protected. The testing or analyzing of drugs 
and chemicals, when explosive or inflammable 
substances are required, should be conducted 
in a room or compartment separated from 
the balance of the building by fireproof walls 


and floors and having all the openings pro¬ 
tected by fireproof doors and windows. 

No open flame of any kind should be used 
where volatile inflammable oils or liquids are 
used. Smoking should be prohibited through- 
out. 

All shaftways of any kind should be en¬ 
closed so as to localize the fire and prevent 
its spread to the remainder of the building, 
and thence to adjoining property. All ex¬ 
terior openings should be protected by wire 
glass windows and metal frames, or by iron 
or kalamined shutters. By installing fire ap¬ 
pliances throughout so as to put out a fire as 
soon as started, and by following the above 
precautions, a fire will be prevented from 
spreading to adjoining dwellings or other 
property. 

(c) Piano Factories.—Besides the precau¬ 
tions enumerated as to exterior openings and 
the protection of open shaftways, etc., and 
the installation of fire appliances, there should 
be provision made as to the disposition of 
oily waste and refuse. Waste cans with self¬ 
closing covers should be provided, and the 
waste should be removed daily and burned 
up or otherwise disposed of. All volatile in¬ 
flammable oils should be stored in safety con¬ 
tainers. 

(d) Distilleries.—The quantity of dis¬ 
tilled liquors, spirits or alcohol stored should 
not be in excess of one barrel for each four 
square feet of floor space, and said barrels 
should not be stacked more than two high. As 
before, all the exterior openings should be 
protected and all interior conditions tending 
to spread a fire should be obviated by the 
enclosing of all shaftways, etc. Auxiliary fire 
appliances should be installed to extinguish 
a fire as soon as started. 

(e) Flour Mills.—Proper ventilation to 
prevent flour dust from accumulating. The 
elimination of all open lights, and the pro¬ 
tection of all apparatus apt to furnish a spark 
or fire and cause a dust explosion. The pro¬ 
tection of all belt openings, and other open¬ 
ings or passageways, by means of which the 
flour dust may percolate and come in contact 
with an open flame or a spark. 

Whenever buildings are located in which 
hazardous operations are being conducted, to 
prevent a spread of fire to adjoining property 
a system of open sprinklers might be installed. 
When in operation this will form a curtain 
of water separating the burning building from 
anything adjoining and will hold the fire in 
check until the department apparatus can ar¬ 
rive to extinguish the fire. 

Ques. 4:—In your duties as inspector 
you examine a hotel 15 stories high, cover¬ 
ing an area 100 by 100 feet. There is a 
restaurant and kitchen in the basement, club 
rooms with restaurant and kitchen attached 
on the top floor, offices and stores on the 
ground floor, a hall for public meetings on 
the second floor. State what you would 
expect to find, in construction, and in fire 
protection devices, and equipment to make 
the building first class risk or safe build¬ 
ing. 

ANS.:—The following structural conditions 


218 


should exist in a building of this character, 
15 stories in height and covering an area of 
1U,UU0 square ieet. The building must be 
hreproof tnrougnout. The iioor surfaces 
must be of stone, cement, rock, asphalt, tiling 
or similar incombustible material, or the 
sleepers and tloors may be of wood treated 
by some process approved by the Bureau of 
hire Trevention to render the same hreproof. 

All outside window frames and sash doors, 
trim and other interior finish may be of wood 
covered with metal, or of wood treated by an 
approved process to render the same hreproof. 

All hall partitions or permanent partitions 
between rooms must be built of preproof ma¬ 
terial and must not be started on wood sills 
nor on wooden floor boards, but must be built 
upon the hreproof construction of the floor 
and extend to the fireproof beam filling above. 
The tops of all door and window openings 
in such partitions must be at least 12 inches 
below the ceiling line. 

There should be three stairways, at least, 
located in different parts of the building; also 
outside fire escapes. There should be suffi¬ 
cient exits from the public meeting room on 
the second story, depending on the seating 
capacity of said hall. All chairs should be 
permanently fastened to the floors. The aisle 
spaces and distances between chairs, etc., 
should conform to the theatre requirements of 
the Building Code. 

In the various kitchens, the ranges and 
ovens should be constructed as per the Build¬ 
ing Code. 

Heating furnaces and boilers should be pro¬ 
tected as per the Building Code. All dumb¬ 
waiter shafts, probably connecting the two 
kitchens, in the cellar and on the top floor, 
should be enclosed in fire-retarding material 
as per the Building Code, and all openings 
protected by self-closing fireproof doors. 

All shaftways and vertical openings should 
be protected so as to prevent the spread of 
a fire, and prevent a fire from mushrooming 
out on to the various floors. 

The building must be equipped with stand¬ 
pipes, the risers to be at least six inches in 
diameter, connected to gravity tank on the 
roof and to Siamese connections (two-way 
3-inch Siamese) at the street fronts of the 
building. Outlets attached to standpipe risers 
at each floor level. Said outlets to be 214- 
inch and connected with approved hose in 50- 
foot lengths, sufficient to cover the entire floor 
area. Hose to be arranged on approved racks 
or reels, with approved open or controlling 
nozzles. Check valves to be placed at top and 
bottom. 

Gravity tank to be elevated so that bot¬ 
tom of same is at least 20 feet above the 
highest hose outlet. Have a capacity of at 
least 3,500 gallons of water, and be equipped 
with altitude gauge and telltale. If used for 
domestic purposes, feed lines must be properly 
arranged to insure constant supply and fur¬ 
nish a reserve of at least 3,500 gallons of water 
for fire line purposes. 

House supply line must connect outside of 
tank above the 3,500-gallon mark. The tank 
must not be fed through standpipe. A sepa¬ 
rate feed line must be installed. Steam coils 


must be installed in gravity tanks, or other 
approved form of heating, to keep the water 
from freezing. 

The risers with hose outlets and hose should 
be located within the stairway enclosures. The 
various risers should be cross-connected by 
horizontal lines at the lower level. These 
pipes must be two inches larger in diameter 
than the risers. The fire pumps for the stand¬ 
pipe lines should conform to Fire Department 
requirements. 

There should be signs and lights indicat¬ 
ing all exits, the signs to be illuminated at 
night with lights having red globes. These 
signs and lights should be located in the 
hallways, and should show the position of the 
stairs, fire escapes, etc. In each room in the 
hotel should be placed a sign with diagram 
printed thereon showing location of exits, hall¬ 
ways, passageways, stairs, fire escapes, etc. 

Water buckets and chemical fire extinguish¬ 
ers should be distributed on the various floors, 
and also metal receptacles for rubbish and 
waste. 

There should be employed by the owner or 
proprietor, or persons having charge, one or 
more watchmen, whose exclusive duty it shall 
be to visit every portion of the building at 
regular and frequent intervals for the purpose 
of detecting fires or other sources of danger 
and giving timely warning thereof to the in¬ 
mates of the building. There should also be 
placed electrical or other alarms and time 
detectors, by means of which the movements 
of the watchmen are recorded and through 
which alarms of fire or other danger are in¬ 
stantly communicated by means of bells or 
gongs to every portion of the buildings. 

All appliances placed or kept for the pur¬ 
pose of preventing or extinguishing fires or 
affording means of escape, must be kept at 
all times in good working order and in proper 
condition for immediate use. There should be 
telegraphic communication with Fire Depart¬ 
ment Headquarters. 

In addition to the above there should also 
be provided fire hooks and axes in the hall 
for public meetings and on the various stories. 

While, no sprinkler system is required, the 
installation of an automatic sprinkler system 
would greatly add towards making the build¬ 
ing a first-class risk and protected at practi¬ 
cally all points. 

Ques. 5:—Give a detailed account of the 
limits as to quantity which are placed upon 
the .storage in New York City of the fol¬ 
lowing-named chemicals and combustible 
materials: (a) Nitrate of soda; (b) Muri¬ 
atic acid; (c) Alcohol; (d) Sulphur; (e) 
Varnish; (f) Turpentine; (g) Unslaked 
lime; (h) Zinc dust; (i) Flax; (j) Matches. 

. ANS.(N. B.—The answer to this ques¬ 
tion is evidently to be taken from old Section 
769 of the Greater New York Charter, which 
specifically quotes quantities for the storage 
of the. chemicals enumerated in the question. 
But this old section was changed by an ordi¬ 
nance to regulate the sale, use and transporta¬ 
tion of explosives in the City of New York, 
passed by the Board of Aldermen May 13, 
1902, and approved by the Mayor May 19, 


219 


1902. In the new Section 769, the storage of 
chemicals was to be regulated by the Munici¬ 
pal Explosives Commission. Since then the 
regulations of the Municipal Explosives Com¬ 
mission have been incorporated in the Code of 
Ordinances, the Municipal Explosives Com¬ 
mission abolished, and the Board of Hazard¬ 
ous Trades formed. 

(The following quantities, therefore, are 
from old Section 769, no longer in force:) 

(a) Nitrate of soda (chlorate of potash, 
chlorate of soda and other chlorates, salt¬ 
peter, nitrate of soda and other nitrates, 500 
pounds in the whole). 

(b) Muriatic acid (aquafortis, muriatic 
acid and nitrate acid, not exceeding 1,000 
pounds in the whole). 

(c) Alcohol (alcohol, pure spirits, cam- 
phene, burning fluid, 5 barrels in the whole). 

(d) Sulphur, 1,000 pounds. 

(e) Varnish, 20 barrels in the whole. 

(f) Turpentine (tar, pitch, rosin and tur¬ 
pentine, 100 barrels in the whole). 

(g) Unslaked lime, 10 barrels. 

(h) Zinc dust (zinc dust, calcium carbide 
and metallic sodium, 100 pounds in the 
whole). 

(i) Flax (hemp or flax unbaled, 2,000 
pounds in the whole). 

(j) Matches (manufactured matches, 500 
pounds). 

Ques. 6:—Give the provisions of the Fire 
Prevention Law in the following matters: 
(a) Criminal liability if death results from 
violations of rules; (b) Manufacture and 
sale of fireworks and explosive compounds. 

ANS.:—(a) The person found guilty shall 
be deemed guilty of a felony, and, upon con¬ 
viction, shall be punished by a fine of not 
less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000, or by 
imprisonment in the State Prison for a term 
not less than one year nor more than five 
years. 

(b) The answer desired here is evidently 
Section 764 of the Greater New York Char¬ 
ter, which is as follows: 

“No fireworks, detonating works, cartridges, 
powder train, percussion caps, collodion, ni¬ 
trate of soda, nitrate of silver, ether, phos¬ 
phorus, matches, or explosive compounds, or 
explosive substances shall hereafter be man¬ 
ufactured in the City, except at such places, 
in such manner, and in such quantities as shall 
be determined by the said Commissioner in 
the exercise of his discretion, under a permit 
by him granted therefor, and subject to be 
revoked at any time by said Commissioner. 
Fireworks, consisting of Chinese crackers, 
rockets, blue lights, candles, colored pots, 
lance-wheels, and other works of brilliant- 
colored fires, may be kept upon sale interven¬ 
ing the tenth day of June and the tenth day 
of July in each year, by retail dealers, under 
such reasonable regulations as said Commis¬ 
sioner may prescribe, under a permit issued 
therefor.” 

Ques. 7:—Discuss reinforced concrete, 
giving the law (substantially) as applied to 
(a) Vertical members; (b) Horizontal mem¬ 
bers, especially in connection with hollow 


tile, cinder arch, etc. Give in both connec¬ 
tions whatever additional precautions your 
experience or information would suggest. 

ANS.:—Reinforced concrete is a building 
material formed by embedding metal parts of 
various shapes and forms in the concrete mix¬ 
ture. The concrete mixture consists of broken 
stone, cement and sand in proportions usually 
one of cement, two or three sand and five or 
six broken stone. 

When set the combination forms an excep¬ 
tional artificial stone, and is used for floor 
arches, and for protecting girders, beams and 
columns. All members of the skeleton con¬ 
struction of a building must be protected by 
a covering of fireproof or fire-retarding ma¬ 
terial, either hollow tile, terra cotta, expanded 
metal lath and cement plaster. 

On columns this protection must be at least 
2 inches in thickness; the brackets may come 
within of an inch of the surface. All ma¬ 
terials used in floor construction must under¬ 
go a test to see whether it is capable of resist¬ 
ing fire in the proper degree. Said test con¬ 
sists of building up a floor, of the materials 
to be used, as in actual practice, finishing up 
the flooring with plaster, etc. The beams four 
in number are 10 inches in depth, averaging 
25 pounds per lineal foot, and are spaced 4 
feet apart on centers, with the interior bay 
14 feet in dimension, with the two outer beams 
supported on the side walls throughout their 
length. 

It is then loaded 150 pounds to the square 
foot, subjected to a fire of not less than 1700 
degrees Fahrenheit for four hours, during 
which time the fire must not go through or 
the load pass through, then it is subjected to 
water from a hose stream at 60 pounds pres¬ 
sure, nozzle V/i inches, for five minutes ap¬ 
plied at the bottom. Then the top is flushed 
with water at low pressure. Then again the 
60 pounds through hose to bottom for five 
minutes. A load of 600 pounds per square 
foot uniformly distributed over the middle 
bay is applied and removed. 

After it has cooled the maximum deflection 
of the interior beams shall not exceed 2 y 2 
inches, and if it answers to this test it may 
be used for floor arches, etc. All unprotected 
iron or steel beams must be protected with a 
fireproof covering. 

Ques. 8:—What is the full mode of pro¬ 
cedure when an owner of a loft building de¬ 
clines or neglects to act on the recommenda¬ 
tion of the Bureau as to changes? 

ANS.:—He may apply for a Board of Sur¬ 
vey, within 48 hours after service, and by 
depositing a sum of $100 to meet the expenses 
of the survey, if requested. He is notified of 
the survey and may be represented at the 
survey in person or by attorney or agent. 
The Board of Survey determines if the orders 
served are justifiable. Their decision is final, 
subject to review by a writ of certiorari by 
the Supreme Court. Said writ must be ob¬ 
tained within ten days (time allowed by 
amendment) after the filing of the report of 
the Board of Survey. The decision of the 
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is 
final. 


220 


If the owner refuses, the Fire Commission¬ 
er may order the building to be vacated until 
such time as the order is complied with. If 
order to vacate is not complied with, the Fire 
Commissioner may obtain an order from the 
Supreme Court, at a Special Term thereof, 
for an order requiring the building to be 
vacated until placed in good condition. This 
order the Fire Commissioner may obtain with¬ 
out any special notice to the occupant. Said 
building or such portion of it as is deemed 
hazardous remains vacated until the changes 
recommended by the Bureau are complied 
with. 

The Board of Survey consists of (1) an 
officer or an employee of the Bureau of Fire 
Prevention, or a member of the Municipal 
Explosives Commission. (2) An architect or 
builder of at least ten years’ experience. (3) 
A person chosen from a list submitted by the 
New York Board of Fire Underwriters, or 
selected by the Fire Commissioner with the 
approval of the Mayor, in the event of the 
Board of Fire Underwriters not submitting 
such a list. (See amendment to this elsewhere 
in book.) 

The members of the Board of Survey, ex¬ 
cept an officer or employee of the Bureau 
of Fire Prevention, receive a fee of $25 for 
each survey upon the filing of a written re¬ 
port of the survey. Said fee is paid from 
the contingent fund of the Department, in 
case the Board of Survey finds for the owner, 
which would necessitate the return of the 
$ 100 . 

REPORT. 

Write a report to the Chief Inspector giv¬ 
ing an account of a survey made by you in 
a nine-story building of 8,000 square feet 
area, five years old, used by various firms 
for the manufacture of clothing. In this re¬ 
port the following subjects only are to be 
considered: 

Occupancy and use of building. 

Sufficiency of means of escape. 

The compliance with laws in reference to 
the safety of workers. 

In rating this report the chief considera¬ 
tion will be given to knowledge of the legal 
requirements, as shown by the candidate, 
but consideration will also be given to clear¬ 
ness and conciseness of expression. Elab¬ 
orate discussions are not desired. Use 
enough words to express your ideas and no 
more. 

(Do not sign any name, number, initials 
or title to this report, or you will be dis¬ 
qualified.) 

ANSWER: 

New York, Dec 26. 1912. 

Chief Inspector, 

Bureau of Fire Prevention. 

Sir: 

I respectfully submit the following report 
of survey of premises situated on 5000. West 
250th Street. Building is nine stories in 
height, dimensions 30 by 100 feet (3,000 square 


feet floor area), erected in 1907, and owned by 
The Concrete Construction Co., offices at 400 
Nassau Street. 

Building is occupied by the following con¬ 
cerns, all manufacturing clothing: Ground 
floor and cellar occupied by Smith & Smith, 
manufacturer of suits, the number of employ¬ 
ees of this firm being 50, of which 10 are 
usually located in the cellar, in the packing 
and shipping room. The second floor is oc¬ 
cupied by A. Citizen, a manufacturer of 
dresses, and the number of employees on this 
floor are 120. The third floor is occupied by 
James Johnson, who has 90 employees work¬ 
ing here. Mr. Johnson manufactures cloaks. 
The fourth floor is occupied by David Freed, 
manufacturer of pants, employing .150 people. 
On the fifth floor Jones & Brown manufac¬ 
ture shirtwaists, employing 60 people, mostly 
women operators. On the sixth and seventh 
and eighth floors Feuer & Co. manufacture 
cloaks and suits, employing 320 people, of 
which 200 are on the eighth floor and 70 on 
the seventh floor and 50 on the sixth floor. 
The ninth floor is occupied by H. Broezelian, 
manufacturer of overcoats, and employing 110 
people. 

There are two stairways located in this 
building, one along the west wall and near 
the front of the building, the other along the 
east wall about the center of the building. 
There is a tier of fire escapes on the rear 
elevation, terminating on a one-story extension 
in the rear. It is necessary from this point 
to re-enter the building at the second story 
and proceed through the second story to the 
rear stairway, then down one flight to the 
hall and thence to the street. Such a condi¬ 
tion is extremely hazardous, especially if the 
fire should occur on the second story. This 
rear tier of fire escapes covers two windows, 
said windows being of wood frames with plain 
glass. It is recommended that the windows 
leading to the fire escapes be made of metal 
frames and sashes, with wired glass, the upper 
sash and lower sash to be’ counterbalanced by 
suitable weights and with fusible link attached, 
so arranged that the window will close auto¬ 
matically in case of fire, vet be readily raised 
by hand should the conditions require.it. This 
will allow the fire escape to be used in safety 
and will prevent flames issuing from floors 
below on to the fire escapes, in which case the 
fire escapes would be valueless. 

Furthermore, a direct means of egress 
should be provided from the termination of 
the fire escapes, either by a drop ladder from 
the extension to the vard in the. rear, and 
thence through a door in the fence in the rear 
and into the next house and thus out to the 
street, or, better yet. a fireproof passageway 
leading from the present termination of the 
fire escapes to the stairway and then to the 
street, the stairway at present being in a fire¬ 
proof passageway. 

It is further recommended that a fire wall 
be erected practicallv bisecting the structure 
in two, with firenroof self-closing doors, at all 
the openings. This will afford a horizontal 
escape, and will greatly diminish any loss of 
life due to a fire occurring in one of the lofts. 
On every floor of the building were found 
accumulations of clippings and cuttings for 





which no fireproof receptacles were provided. 
The same are recommended installed, and said 
cuttings are to be removed daily from the 
premises. Beside the conditions noted above 
the following were observed: 

Cellar. Equipped with 15 water buckets. 
No violations. 

Ground Floor. Twelve water buckets and 
one chemical liquid extinguisher, one hook and 
one axe on premises. One quart of benzine 
used to remove spots. Same stored in an ap¬ 
proved safety can. Signs prohibiting smoking 
installed. 

Second Story. Fifteen water buckets on 
premises and one hook and one axe. A par¬ 
tition in the rear obstructs the passageway 
from the fire escape to the stairway. This 
partition should be removed, and the fireproof 
passageway noted above should be installed. 
Found the proprietor smoking, despite signs 
up prohibiting smoking. The proprietor, Mr. 
Citizen, was served with a summons to court 
for smoking on the premises. 

Third Story. No violations were found 
except the storage of cuttings on the floor. 
Premises are equipped with 12 water buckets, 
and one hook and axe. 

Fourth Story. The number of employees 
on this floor was 150. Assuming the height 
of the story to be 12 feet, the cubical con¬ 
tents would be 36,000 feet. The Labor Law 
requires an air space of 250 cubic feet for 
each employee between the hours of 6 A. M. 
and 6 P. M. This gives a maximum for each 
loft of 144 employees. Hence, there are six 
employees working here in excess of the num¬ 
ber allowed by law. The same violation ap¬ 
plies to the eighth story. And it is recom¬ 
mended that the number of employees be de¬ 
creased to the number permitted by the Labor 
Law. 

Fifth Story. One quart benzine in use 
in safety can. Gas stove used for cooking 
dinner for the employees. Same rests on 
wooden table and has flexible rubber tubing 
to gas jet. Recommend that a metal shield 
be provided under gas stove, and that per¬ 
manent metal tubing be installed instead of 
flexible tubing. There are 12 water buckets, 
2 sand buckets, 1 hook and axe on this floor. 

Sixth and Seventh Floors. Twelve water 
buckets. One hook and axe on each story. 
No violations except the rubbish. 

Eighth Story. Excessive number of em¬ 
ployees. Sewing machine tables so arranged 
as to form obstructions to rear stairway and 
fire escape, with no aisle space. Recommend 
that said sewing machine tables be arranged 
and proper aisle space made. The operators’ 
chairs should also be permanently fastened to 
the floor, so as not to form an obstruction in 
case of a hurried exit. 

Ninth Story. Found that this firm has in¬ 
stalled a fire drill in conjunction with placin'* 
all fire appliances, 12 water buckets, hook and 
axe. Proper aisle space on this floor. 

Would respectfully recommend that an in¬ 
terior fire alarm system be installed and that 
a fire drill should also be. installed on the 
premises. Standpipes in building as required 


by law. An automatic sprinkler system with 
supervisory service should also be installed 
in this building. 

Respectfully submitted, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTOR. 

Bureau of Fire Prevention, New York Fire 
Department. 

By SAMUEL ROSENBLUM, B. S., C. E. 

Former Chief Examiner, Fire Prevention 
Bureau, New York. 

(Asked at Non-Competitive Tests.) 

Ques. 1:—What is a Philadelphia fire 
tower? 

ANS.:—A Philadelphia fire tower is in 
reality an enclosed stairway used as a 
means of escape in case of fire. The stair¬ 
way is enclosed by fireproof walls and is 
entered from the outside of the building 
proper. There are various forms, all of 
which are termed fire towers, and they form 
an excellent means of escape. The stair 
well may be located inside of the building, 
but separated from it by unpierced fireproof 
walls rising from the foundation to the 
roof. To reach this stairway or enclosed 
tower, it is necessary to step outside the 
building through a door or a window or to a 
fireproof balcony; then proceed along 
this balcony to another door opening into 
the fire tower proper. The above form of 
tower is located in the building. 

Another kind and, as before, enclosed by 
fireproof walls with a fireproof stairway on 
the interior of the tower; the tower is 
reached from the building by means of a 
fireproof balcony, directly connecting the 
building and the tower, so that the entrance 
to the tower faces the wall of the building; 
or the balcony may be carried around the 
tower so that entrance to same is had on 
the opposite wall, and thus not facing the 
exit from the building. This affords added 
protection and shield from flames that may 
be issuing from the wall of the building 
facing the tower. 

Still another form of Philadelphia fire 
tower is one located in the interior of the 
building,, but reached by passing through a 
self-closing fireproof door to a vestibule, ex¬ 
posed to the outer air (by means of an open¬ 
ing in the exterior wall, guarded by a fire¬ 
proof rail), and then through another fire¬ 
proof door with the tower itself. It is pos¬ 
sible to use the latter form of tower for 
two buildings by having the tower located 
between the two and having a fireproof 
door opening on a common vestibule (the 
latter open, to the air as before stated). All 
doors leading to the vestibule and the tower 
should be self-closing fireproof doors. 



Ques. 2:—How would you prevent a fire 
from mushrooming in an elevator shaft? 

ANS.:—-To prevent a fire from mush¬ 
rooming in an elevator shaft it is necessary 
to see that all openings on the various 
floors are properly protected by fireproof 
doors, etc. Moreover, the elevator shaft 
should be enclosed in suitable walls of brick, 
or with a suitable framework of iron and 
burnt clay filling, or of such other fireproof 
material and form of construction as may be 
approved. 

The roofs over all inclosed elevators must 
be made of fireproof materials with a sky¬ 
light at least three-quarters the area of the 
shaft, made of glass set in iron frames. 
When the shaft does not extend to the 
ground, the lower end must be enclosed in 
fireproof material. 

Automatic trap doors arranged to close 
and open with the operation of the car can 
be installed. When the car is away from 
the floor the trap doors will close the floor 
opening, and when the car is at the floor, the 
car itself will act as a stop. 

By thus protecting the openings on the 
various floors by either automatic trap 
doors covered with fire retarding material 
or a fireproof enclosure with self-closing 
fireproof doors at the various floors, the 
fire will be held in check in the shaftway 
and will not mushroom out on the various 
floors. 

Ques. 3:—What constitute interior hori¬ 
zontal hazards, interior vertical hazards, and 
exterior hazards? 

ANS.:—Interior Horizontal Hazards.—In 
this class are placed halls, passageways, 
pipe lines and openings and areas of all 
kinds that will allow the spread of a fire in 
a horizontal direction from one portion of 
a building to another. Unprotected interior 
doors and windows, spaces between floors, 
galleries, etc., are also in this class. 

Interior Vertical Hazards.—All unpro¬ 
tected openings and areas leading from 
floor to floor that will allow the spread of a 
fire from one level to another level in a 
building. This includes elevator shafts, 
hoistways, stair-wells, pipe openings, light 
shafts, vent shafts, etc. 

Exterior Hazards.—Conditions surround¬ 
ing a building which may cause any fire 
to spread and attack it. Such fires may be 
transmitted to the building through its un¬ 
protected exterior doors, windows, sky¬ 
lights, etc., and may be started from neigh¬ 
boring chimneys, sparks when adjoining 
buildings are on fire, etc. 

Ques. 4:—To what matters would you 
give particular attention if you were de¬ 
tailed to inspect (a) furniture factories; 
(b) distilleries; (c) chemical works; (d) 
carpenter shops; (e) wholesale millinery 
establishments? In each case mention at 
least two matters of special importance, 
and give the provisions or the law or or¬ 
dinance applying to each case. Do not deal 
with the same violation more than once in 
your answer. 


ANS.:—In inspecting the various busi¬ 
nesses enumerated in the question, the spe¬ 
cial features to be looked after, beside the 
general construction of the buildings and 
premises, would be, briefly, as follows: 

(a) Furniture Factories:—Methods of 
storage and handling of waste cotton and 
other materials used in polishing the fur¬ 
niture, the use of varnishes, shellacs, fillers, 
oils, etc. Self-closing metal waste cans 
should be provided for the storage of oily 
waste and same should be removed every 
night, and preferably burned in the furnace. 
Volatile inflammable oils should be kept in 
safety cans, and in the rooms where the 
same are used there should not be used 
any flames or lights over than the electric 
incandescent lamps, with double globes 
and wire covers. The storage of oils, etc., 
is governed by the rules and regulations of 
the Municipal Explosives Commission. 
(Under a law that went into effect in April, 
1914, the Municipal Explosives Commis¬ 
sion was abolished. The Fire Commis¬ 
sioner now has the powers of that Com¬ 
mission.) The accumulation of oily waste 
and refuse constituting a fire hazard and a 
nuisance, Sec. 776 of the Greater New York 
Charter (the Fire Prevention Law) may 
apply to same. 

(b) Distilleries:—The Code of Ordinances 
prescribes that it shall be unlawful for any 
person to store distilled liquors, spirits or 
alcohol of any kind in excess of one barrel 
for each four square feet of floor space: 
furthermore, barrels containing liquors, 
spirits or alcohols must not be stacked more 
than two high. In inspecting such prem¬ 
ises the above precautions would be looked 
after, as well as the situation of the build¬ 
ing as regards surrounding property, inas¬ 
much as no permit shall be issued for the 
manufacture, distillation, rectification or 
storage of distilled liquors, spirits or alco¬ 
hols, in any building which is situated with¬ 
in 50 feet of the nearest wall of any build¬ 
ing occupied as a hospital, school, theater 
or other place of public amusement or as¬ 
sembly. The building itself must not be of 
wooden construction, and must be equipped 
with an approved fire protection system. 
Permits are required where distilled liquors, 
spirits or alcohols of any kind in quanti¬ 
ties aggregating more than ten barrels of 
50 gallons each are stored. All the above 
features would be looked into when inspect¬ 
ing distilleries. 

(c) Chemical Works:—The methods of 
storage and handling of nitric and other 
acids. No organic substance, sawdust, hay 
or excelsior should be stored in proximity 
to nitric acid. Chemicals that are of an ex¬ 
plosive nature, or when one increases the 
energy of decomposition of the other, or 
when they are so constituted that they may 
react upon one another and become explo¬ 
sive or inflammable, must not be stored in 
close proximity to each other. Sufficient 
quantity of sand or infusorial earth should 
be provided for absorbing all waste liquids 
from floors. The storage of volatile in¬ 
flammable oils would have to be looked 


223 


into, and no empty barrels, drums or con¬ 
tainers from which such oils have been 
taken should be allowed to remain on the 
premises, but said containers should be re¬ 
moved as soon as possible, and in no case 
should they be stored therein more than 24 
hours. Packing rooms to be inspected; 
same to be kept as remotely as practicable 
from large stocks of stored goods. Pack¬ 
ing room floor to be kept free as possible 
from hay, excelsior and other combustible 
packing material. See that proper recepta¬ 
cles were provided for the packing mate¬ 
rials. See that proper provision has been 
made for the elimination of any danger 
from packing apparatus, etc. The rules 
and regulations of the Municipal Explo¬ 
sives Commission govern chemical works. 

(d) Carpenter Shops: —See that proper 
provision has been made for the shavings 
resulting from the operations on the prem¬ 
ises. These should be removed from the 
premises, or securely stowed in some safe 
place remote from danger by fire, at the 
close of each day. Fireproof receptacles 
should be provided for the same. Sec. 760 
of the Greater New York Charter applies 
to the above. Wire guards to be provided 
about open gas jets, so as to protect mate¬ 
rials from the open flame. The Labor Law 
requires the gas jets or lights to be prop¬ 
erly enclosed by globes, or wire cages, etc. 

(e) Wholesale Millinery Establishments: 
—The use of flimsy materials in the manu¬ 
facture of the articles in these establish¬ 
ments should be looked after. No clip¬ 
pings or cuttings should be allowed to ac¬ 
cumulate. Fireproof receptacles should be 
provided as called for by the Labor Law. 
See that sufficient fire appliances are dis¬ 
tributed so as to handle any incipient fire. 
The ordinance amending Sec. 762 of the 
Greater New York Charter requires such 
fire appliances to be installed as the Fire 
Commissioner may direct. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
INSPECTOR, 

Bureau Fire Prevention. 

Date: Dec. 27, 1912. 

DUTIES—Weight 6. 

PART I. 

1. What does the fire drill consist of, 
aside from the rescue of employees and 
occupants of a building? What are the fea¬ 
tures necessary for a successful fire drill 
corps? How would you organize the em¬ 
ployees into ordinary groups? What 
alarms and signals would you install? 
What special features of drills and signals 
would you apply to a seven-story furniture 
factory (mill construction)? 

2. An old six-story building, non-fire- 
proof, of 6,250 sq. ft. area, facing on two 
streets, is occupied by a dealer in smoking 
pipes, smokers’ articles, cigars and tobacco. 


Stock on premises about 900 gross of 
matches, one-third safety and two-thirds 
parlor matches, stored in the first story, 
having brick floor; also about 200 gross of 
celluloid mouthpieces in pasteboard boxes 
in one of the upper floors. Watchman em¬ 
ployed, but not required to register rounds 
on a time clock. Swinging gas brackets, 
fastened to woodwork below wooden ceil¬ 
ing. Benzine used for cleaning purposes. 
As Inspector, point out the fire hazards de¬ 
scribed in the above building, showing why 
they are dangerous and the changes you 
would recommend to guard against fire. 

3. You are sent to inspect an eight-story 
business building which is occupied by a 
large printing establishment, a book bind¬ 
ery, a color department and a department 
for the storage of paper. The plant em¬ 
ploys about 800 persons. Tell the fire 
hazards that are liable to be present in 
such a building in each of the departments 
specified and what precautions should be 
taken to protect the building from fire and 
to protect employees in case of fire. 

4. State the comparative advantages and 
disadvantages of armored fire doors and 
sheet-steel doors. How are doors made 
self-closing? With what fittings are they 
hung, locked and opened? Describe the 
lock joints of the sheets of an armored door, 
making sketch if you wish to. 

PART II. 

5. Give all the necessary particulars con¬ 
cerning the methods and devices which 
under the law must be employed for the 
prevention of fire and the safety of human 
beings in (a) churches; (b) schools; (c) lec¬ 
ture halls: (d) theatres, and (e) dance halls 
in New York City. 

6. What right of entry is given the In¬ 
spector? What would be your action if you 
were refused or denied admission into a 
factory? What, if not allowed in a storage 
portion of a factory loft building? 

7. Give the principal regulations regard¬ 
ing (a) storing of shavings; (b) closing of 
hoistways; (c) retail sales of fireworks; (d) 
sales of matches after January 1, 1913. 

8. Explain as fully as possible the rela¬ 
tion existing between the Building Depart¬ 
ment and the Fire Department, Bureau of 
Fire Prevention. Speak particularly of (a) 
approval of plans for new buildings; (b) 
fireproof construction; (c) exits; (d) walls; 
(e) safety devices to protect against fire 
and fire hazards. 

REPORT—Weight 1. 

Write a report to the Chief Inspector 
giving an account of a survey made by you 
in a new 15-story loft building of 5,000 sq. 
ft. area to each floor. In this report a de¬ 
tailed inspection is to be made in regard 
to the auxiliary fire appliances only. The 
following parts of the building are to be 
inspected: 

(a) The roof; 

(b) The 15th floor; 

(c) The 1st floor; 

(d) The cellar. 



Date: Dec. 26 and 27, 1912. 

EXPERIENCE—Weight 3. 

(To be sworn to.) 

NOTE:—Accurate and concise answers 
are required and any false statement will 
disqualify the candidate in this and future 
examinations. In this paper candidates are 
given an opportunity to make clear their 
experience. Answers must be convincing; 
if evasive and indefinite they will receive 
no rating. 

The rating for Experience is given on the 
statements made in this paper, not on those 
in the application sheet. 

1. State your age and length of residence 
in the city. 

2. (a) State when and where you at¬ 
tended public school, or private school, and 
if you finished grammar grade, or high 
school. (b) Have you taken any corre¬ 
spondence courses or specific study in any 
line tending to qualify you for this posi¬ 
tion? If so, where and for how long? 

(c) Have you pursued a technical course? 
If so, where, when and for what period of 
time. 

In reply to the following questions, can¬ 
didates who are temporary appointees to 
Inspector, Fire Prevention, must omit all 
references to investigations and inspections 
made during the period of their incumbency. 

3. Have you ever been employed as a 
“social worker” or been engaged in tene¬ 
ment house inspection? If so, state where 
and for how long. State wages received in 
each position. 

4. Have you ever been engaged to make 
factory inspections? If so, state by whom 
and for how long. What were your wages 
or salary? 

5. Have you held any position involving 
supervision over, or inspection of, the con¬ 
ditions of cleanliness in places where many 
people assemble or work? If so, state title 
of your position, duties, salary and dates. 

6. Enumerate the positions you have held 
in architects’, engineers’, inspection, insur¬ 
ance or adjusters’ offices, not enumerated 
above. State title of each position; state 
salary received in it; state duties per¬ 
formed; state length of service in each. 

7. What investigations of causes of fire 
have you made? During what time, how 
many and for whom? 

8. What inspections of building have you 
made to examine details of construction? 
For what period of time, how many and 
for whom? 

9. What positions have you held in which 
you were required to estimate cost of re¬ 
pairs, damages, etc.? Where, when and for 
whom? 

10. State where you acquired any experi¬ 
ence in sketching, or reading building plans, 
and in what position you were so engaged. 

11. Give the names and addresses of at 
least three persons to whom references may 
be made for verification of the above state¬ 
ments. 


FIFTY PRACTICE QUESTIONS. 

For Fire Prevention Inspector, N. Y. City. 

1. What comprise the duties of a Fire Pre¬ 
vention Inspector? 

2. What conditions would you note in mak¬ 
ing an inspection of a building? 

3. Give fifteen causes of fires, stating how 
the fires start in each case. 

4. What is meant by the term spontaneous 
combustion? Give at least five ways in which 
fires start from this source. 

5. Define the following terms: (a) Con¬ 

crete; (b) brick; (c) wired glass; (d) fire¬ 
proof material; (e) asbestos; (f) “stag¬ 
gered”; (g) “corbeling”; (h) trimmer arch; 
(i) writ of certiorari; (j) factory. 

6. What are the requirements governing 
doors and windows in a factory? 

7. (a) Into what Bureaus is the Fire De¬ 
partment divided? (b) What powers has the 
Bureau of Fire Prevention? (c) How are the 
subordinates in the various bureaus selected? 

8. What laws and ordinances must the Fire 
Commissioner enforce? What subjects do 
these laws and ordinances cover? 

9. Enumerate the powers of the Fire Com¬ 
missioner under the recent Fire Prevention 
Bill. 

10. In making an inspection of a loft 
building, you find violations in the lofts of 
each of the occupants and in the fire equip¬ 
ment of the building. State in detail what 
steps are taken to remedy these conditions, 
assuming that you are unable to serve an or¬ 
der on the owner of the building personally. 

11. What do you consider a fire hazard? 
How is such hazard termed? What steps 
are taken to abate these conditions? 

12. How are orders of the Fire Department 
or Fire Commissioner enforced, when the 
person served with said orders refuses, or 
neglects, to comply with the same? 

13. Where the execution of an order has 
been attended by an outlay of money, upon 
whom devolves the expense? State in detail 
how these expenses may be collected. 

14. Mr. A. Jones, of No. 5000 East 5th 
Street, has been served with an order to in¬ 
stall a sprinkler system at the above address. 
Mr. Jones deems the order unreasonable. Has 
he any recourse or repeal from the order? 
State all the steps taken by Mr. Jones and 
by the Fire Department or Fire Commissioner. 

15. What persons comprise a Board of Sur¬ 
vey? What are their duties? What compen¬ 
sation do they receive? 

16. Under what conditions can the Fire 
Commissioner order a building vacated? How 
may the Fire Commissioner enforce compli¬ 
ance with the order to vacate the premises? 

17. Through what officers of the Fire De¬ 
partment are fires investigated? How is the 
investigation of cases of supposed arson, in¬ 
cendiarism, or fires due to criminal careless¬ 
ness conducted? 

19. What size standpipes are required in 
buildings of the following heights: 85 feet, 
100 feet. 160 feet and 200 feet? Where should 
the outlets for a standpipe system be located? 
How are standpipes supplied with water? 

20. Discuss in detail the arrangement, piping 


225 


and connections for a gravity tank in a stand¬ 
pipe system for a building 120 feet in height? 

21. Where should the check valves in a 
sprinkler system be located? What is their 
object? 

22. What requirements should fire pumps 
in standpipe lines fulfil? 

23. Give some specifications for (a) fire 
buckets; (b) fire extinguishers; (c) fire 
hooks, (d) fire axes, (e) interior electric 
alarm system, (f) exit signs, lights and dia¬ 
grams. 

24. Distinguish between a wet and dry 
sprinkler system. In what buildings would 
you order each installed? 

25. How should the sprinkler head in a 
sprinkler system be arranged? Give a sched¬ 
ule showing the number of heads allowed on 
different sizes of pipes. What is a Siamese 
connection? Where should they be placed? 

26. Define the following: (a) private dwell¬ 
ing; (b) tenement house; (c) apartment 
house; (d) office building; (e) frame build- 
ing. 

27. How are the number of stairways in a 
building determined? 

28. How should gas lights be located in a 
building in order to comply with the Build¬ 
ing Code? 

29. On what classes of structures are fire 
escapes required? 

30. How should chimneys and flues be con¬ 
structed according to the Building Code? 
What requirements must be complied with 
when apparatus is used that heats the flues 
to a high temperature? 

31. What precautions must be taken where 
steam and hot water heating pipes pass 
through floors and ceilings of a building? 

32. In what manner must combustible par¬ 
titions around boilers be protected? 

33. How should registers be installed ac¬ 
cording to the Building Code? What protec¬ 
tion is placed around woodwork on which 
they rest? 

34. What precautions are prescribed for the 
protection of elevator and shaft openings 
upon floors? How should elevator shaftways 
be enclosed? 

35. What are the requirements of the Great¬ 
er New York Charter in reference to hoist¬ 
ways, iron shutters, etc.? 

36. On what buildings are shutters, blinds 
or doors required? How should such doors 
be constructed? 

37. What buildings must be built of fire¬ 
proof materials? What constitutes a fire¬ 
proof building? State what woodwork may 
be used in a fireproof building 10 stories in 
height, and a fireproof building 15 stories in 
height. How must the floor surfaces and 
interior trim be constructed in the latter 
building? 

38. Describe a test for fireproof floors. 

39. How should aisles, passageways, etc., be 
arranged in public buildings? What charac¬ 
ter of buildings must provide watchmen? How 
must alarm systems be placed in such build¬ 
ings ? 

40. Define the following: (a) fire escape; 
(b) batten; (c) tread; (d) goose neck ladder; 


(e) ratio 4 to 1 in specifications for fire es¬ 
capes. 

41. How must fire escapes be secured to 

the wall? . 1 

42. When is a landing platform required? 
How must it be constructed? 

43. Give some specifications for the stair¬ 
ways and stairway openings in a tier of fire 
escapes. 

44. Write a report of an inspection of a 
5-story building, used for light manufactur¬ 
ing, giving fire violations on each floor, and 
fire violations in the construction of the build¬ 
ing. Do not repeat the same violation twice. 
Make your recommendations as to the re¬ 
moval of these violations. 

45. Give ten substances that are prohibited 
in wholesale or retail drug stores. 

46. Why are nitrates and fulminates danger¬ 
ous? 

47. How is acetylene gas obtained? What 
is nitroglycerine? What is gunpowder? 

48. Name at least four well known acids 
and discuss their properties. 

49. What is a volatile liquid? Name a few. 
What is an oxidizing agent? What is the 
effect of an explosion due to? 

50. What are the properties of carbon di¬ 
sulphide, collodion, kerosene oil, ether, alco¬ 
hol, turpentine, gasolene? 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

CHIEF EXAMINER BUREAU OF FIRE 
PREVENTION. 

New York Fire Department. 

Date: May 28, 1912. 

TECHNICAL. 

Weight 5. 

By SAMUEL ROSENBLUM, B. S., C. E., 

Former Chief Examiner, Fire Prevention 
Bureau, New York. 

NOTE:—Accurate, concise and adequate 
answers are called for—not elaborate discus¬ 
sions. 

Ques. 1:—(a) What varieties of buildings 
are included in the term frame buildings? 
(b) From and to what point is the height 
of a building measured according to the 
Code? (c) Define the limits of the high 
pressure district and explain how the high 
pressure is maintained, (d) Distinguish be¬ 
tween a fireproof and a non-fireproof build¬ 
ing. (e) What is the fire risk in a dumb¬ 
waiter shaft and how is it to be minimized? 

ANS.:—(a) Frame buildings include build¬ 
ings constructed entirely of wood, also build¬ 
ings constructed of wood sheathed with metal, 
buildings constructed of wood lined with about 
4 inches of brickwork, buildings having some 
of the walls constructed of metal, and the re¬ 
maining walls of wood. 



(b) The height of a building is measured 
from the curb level at the center of the front 
of the building to the top of the highest point 
of the roof beams in the case of flat roofs, 
and for high-pitched roofs the average of the 
height of the gable is taken as the highest 
point of the building. 

(c) The high pressure district at present 
covers the lower section of the City as far 
north as 23rd Street, on the east side, and as 
far north as 34th Street on the west side. 
The intention is ultimately to spread the high 
pressure zone over that portion of the city 
that presents a great fire risk, namely: the 
crowded tenement sections and the section in 
which loft and manufacturing concerns and 
warehouses are located. The high pressure is 
maintained by pumping stations located 
throughout the various zones. In time of fire 
these pumping stations are notified directly, 
the pumps set to work, and then maintain the 
pressure that the chief officer in charge at the 
fire calls for according to the exigencies ex¬ 
isting at the fire. As the strength of the fire 
decreases, the said chief officer will request 
a lower pressure, which is maintained until 
the chief. officer requests that the high pres¬ 
sure service be turned off. 

(d) A fireproof building is one constructed 
entirely of non-combustible materials, includ¬ 
ing the walls, floors, partitions, stairways, 
doors, etc. Such construction would consist 
of a skeleton construction of cast, wrought 
iron or steel, beams, girders and columns. 
Said skeleton construction supporting fireproof 
arches, terra cotta blocks, brick, reinforced 
concrete, cinder concrete or any special form 
which has been tested and received a certifi¬ 
cate of approval from the Building Depart¬ 
ment. The outside walls to be of brick, con¬ 
crete or some incombustible approved mate¬ 
rial. From the top of the arch to the top of 
the beams should be a filling of incombustible 
material (cinder concrete), the same carried 
up to the top or finished flooring. All beams, 
girders, columns, all the steel and iron frame¬ 
work should be completely incased in fireproof 
material, terra cotta blocks, concrete, etc. 

In a strictly fireproof building there should 
be no woodwork of any kind, although the 
Building Code specifies that for buildings less 
than 150 feet in height, wood sleepers (not 
bearing timbers) and wood flooring over the 
same (the spacing over the arch and to the 
finished floor being filled with incombustible 
material) may be installed. But, as stated 
before, the term fireproof implies no placing 
of any combustible material, all stairway en¬ 
closures to be surrounded by fireproof mate¬ 
rial, all openings and floors, walls, etc., to be 
fire-stopped, all doors to be fireproof and self¬ 
closing, said doors to be located at all open¬ 
ings from one part of the floor to another, 
or wherever egress is had from one portion 
of the building to another. All exterior open¬ 
ings to have wire glazed windows, with metal 
trim and sashes, or be enuioped with fireproof 
shutters where the Building Code requires. 
Summing up, a fireproof building should, be 
so constructed to resist the action of fire, with¬ 
out a physical or chemical change resulting 
that offsets the stability of the construction of 
the building. 


As contrasted with a fireproof building, a 
non-fireproof building would be termed a 
building in the construction of which wood 
beams or girders are used and the interior 
construction consisting of wood lath and plas¬ 
ter, etc. The exterior walls may be of brick, 
etc., but wherever combustible material enters 
into the body of the building the said building 
would be termed non-fireproof. Part of a 
non-fireproof building may have to be of fire¬ 
proof construction, depending upon the occu¬ 
pancy, the height, whether same is used for 
residential purposes, etc. The specific details, 
of course, being enumerated in the Tenement 
House Law and Building Code. 

(e) A dumbwaiter shaft makes an excel¬ 
lent flue, the fire risk being that it causes 
the rapid spread of fire from one portion of 
a building to another. To prevent this and 
to minimize the risk, the dumbwaiter shaft 
should be built of fireproof or fire-resisting 
construction or lined with an incombustible 
material. All doors and openings to be 
equipped with self-closing fireproof doors. 

Ques. 2:—What constitutes the difference 
between a fire escape and a stairway? De¬ 
fine each and state what in your opinion 
constitutes the structural features to be ob¬ 
served in making each a safe means of es¬ 
cape. What is the principle of the so-called 
“Philadelphia fireproof tower”? 

ANS.:—A fire escape is an outside means 
of egress, consisting of iron balconies and 
stairways connecting each floor, and access 
to same being by means of fireproof doors 
and windows, while a stairway is a. means 
of entrance and exit located in the interior 
of the building. Distinction is made between 
open and enclosed stairways, an open stairway 
being one in which the floor of the building 
is reached directly from the staircase without 
passing through any halls, etc. The enclosed 
stairway, as the name implies, is separated 
from the floor by a wall of some kind, and 
entrance is had into the floor from a passage¬ 
way. 

To make a stairway a safe means of escape 
it is necessary to enclose the same by fire¬ 
proof partitions or walls and to have the open¬ 
ings from each floor to said stairway equipped 
with self-closing, fireproof doors. To make a 
fire escape safe it is necessary to see that all 
windows leading on to said fire escape be 
equipped with wire glass and metal frames 
and sash. It is best to have the. upper and 
lower sash arranged to be self-closing, so that 
it will close automatically in case of fire, but 
yet be easily raised by hand. Such a window 
located on a fire down the fire escapes, in safe¬ 
ty and prevent the flames from reaching them 
when passing that portion of the burning 
floor. The above requirement has been in¬ 
corporated in the new fire escape regulations. 
Besides the above construction the balconies 
and stairways of the fire escapes should be 
built of good wrought iron or steel, with 
brackets, and battens sufficient to support the 
load. 

Furthermore, the stairways should be built 
at angle not over 60 degrees from the hori¬ 
zontal plane, and should have treads, and 
steps capable of supporting the load as per 


227 


specifications. Furthermore, the. balconies 
should be equipped with proper railings, stand¬ 
ards, etc. 

Care should be taken that the fire escapes 
terminate in a portion of the premises that 
is of easy access to the street. No iron doors 
or shutters should be so situated on the fire 
escape as to block the means of exit. 

The so-called “Philadelphia” fireproof 
tower is a stairway completely enclosed on 
all sides by fireproof walls, entrance to 
which is had from the outside of the build¬ 
ing proper. This fireproof tower, one of the 
most excellent means of escape known, may 
be located in the building, or may be lo¬ 
cated entirely outside the building proper. 

To reach this stairway or enclosed tower, 
it is necessary to step outside the building 
through a door to a fireproof balcony, then 
proceed along this balcony to another door 
opening into the fire tower proper. 

Another form of tower fire stairway is 
one located in the interior of the building, 
but reached by passing through a self-clos¬ 
ing fireproof door to a vestibule, exposed to 
the outer air (by means of an opening in the 
exterior wall, guarded by a fireproof rail), 
and then through another fireproof door 
into the stairway itself. 

Ques. 3:—Describe the two systems of 
sprinklers; how regulated and controlled. 
What are their relative advantages and dis¬ 
advantages? How far are they efficient in 
reducing hazard to life and property in fire¬ 
proof buildings as well as in non-fireproof 
buildings? 

ANS.:—The two generally accepted sys¬ 
tems of sprinklers are known as the wet 
and dry systems. The wet system has wa¬ 
ter in the lines of pipes ready to flow when 
the fusible link attached to the sprinkler 
head melts, while in the dry system the 
melting of the fusible link releases air pres¬ 
sure which in turn allows the water to 
flow. 

In the dry pipe valve system the pipes are 
under air pressure, until same is released as 
stated above. The sprinklers receive their 
supply from gravity tanks located on the 
roof and also pressure tanks. In the lat¬ 
ter tanks the water is constantly under 
pressure. The tanks are connected to the 
sprinkler lines by means of risers, and said 
risers are cross-connected and end in a Si¬ 
amese connection outside the building 
proper and about 18 inches above the level 
of the sidewalk. 

Both systems are equipped with check 
valves, so situated that when a steamer con¬ 
nection is made at the sidewalk, the upper 
check valve will prevent water from being 
forced into the tank. Vice-versa, the lower 
check valve will prevent water being forced 
out at the Siamese connection when the 
tanks are working. In the dry pipe valve 
system, an air valve is attached which holds 
back the flow of water until the air pressure 
is released by a link melting. The dry pipe 
valve system is used in buildings that are 
usually not heated, the disadvantage of the 
wet system being in the freezing of the 


water in the pipes in cold weather unless 
precautions the taken to the contrary. 

Some systems are convertible, allowing 
the system to be used as a wet system when 
the temperature of the building permits and 
changed to a dry pipe valve system when 
cold weather sets in. t ' 

Another form of dry pipe sprinklers is 
installed in cellars and sub-cellars of build¬ 
ings, connected merely to a Siamese con¬ 
nection at the sidewalk. This form replaces 
the perforated pipe and has the great ad¬ 
vantage of allowing water to flow on the 
fire just where it may be located, without 
loss oi water-damaged goods ( the case 
with perforated pipes—the water having to 
flow from several outlets before reaching 
the source of the fire). Sprinkler systems 
have floor outlets at each floor with con¬ 
trolling valves (kept open) on each floor. 
When water starts to flow in the super¬ 
visory equipments, the fact is transmitted 
simultaneously to the headquarters of the 
company, which knows therefore that water 
is flowing (either a fire taking place or a 
head gone off, or a leak occurring). Run¬ 
ners attached to the company’s headquar¬ 
ters are dispatched to ascertain the cause 
of the flow, except at night, when it is 
presumed that a fire has occurred and the 
alarm is sent in. During the day, the com¬ 
pany presupposes that some one is on the 
premises who will transmit the alarm. The 
various tanks are fed by pumps, and also 
are connected to automatic fire pumps, 
which start working when a head gives off 
and the water starts to flow. A drip is 
located just below the piping (and in the 
building) so that the water can be emptied 
from the Siamese connection after seam has 
been used. 

Sprinkler heads are apt to go off through 
pressure, or an increase in the temperatures 
of the room, not due to a fire, etc. But the 
precautions taken usually prevent any seri¬ 
ous damage and are more than offset by the 
advantages should a fire actually occur. 
Both in fireproof and non-fireproof build¬ 
ings the presence of a sprinkler equipment 
decreases the fire hazard and protects life 
and property because it is supposed to put 
out the fire in its incipiency and prevent its 
spread. With the sprinkler system work¬ 
ing, the fire is held in check until the occu¬ 
pants can leave the building. Naturally in a 
non-fireproof building it may save the en¬ 
tire building from destruction, while in a 
fireproof building it prevents the destruc¬ 
tion of valuable furniture, records, etc. The 
sprinkler system should put out the fire 
before it has gained headway, hold the fire 
in check and allow the safe egress of the 
occupants of the premises. 

Ques. 4:—In what respects does the au¬ 
thority of each of the following depart¬ 
ments, or bureaus, contribute to the elim¬ 
ination of fire hazards: The Department 
of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, the 
Bureau of Buildings and the Municipal Ex¬ 
plosives Commission and the Tenement 
House Department? Illustrate fully by cit- 


228 



ing examples, or circumstances showing 
where or in what regard the authority of 
Bureau of Fire Protection supersedes any 
or all of these. 

ANS.:—The Department of Water Sup¬ 
ply, Gas and Electricity supervises the sup¬ 
ply of water for the City, controls the in¬ 
stallation of electrical and gas fixtures 
throughout the City and maintains the high 
pressure stations, thus aiding the Fire De¬ 
partment in the extinguishing of fires. It 
sees that electrical wiring is installed in 
proper conduits, that switchboards are prop¬ 
erly located and protected, that motors, etc., 
are correctly installed. 

The Bureau of Fire Prevention, however, 
determines after the installation has been 
put in and approved whether it has deteri¬ 
orated after use, whether wires and lamps 
are improperly hung, whether there is dan¬ 
ger of a short circuit. Whether gas fix¬ 
tures are properly protected by wire guards 
or globes and that no combustible mate¬ 
rials are stored in close proximity to the 
same. 

Bureau of Buildings, whether the proper 
loads have been used and proper beams, 
girders, etc., installed. Supervises the plans, 
etc., filed and supervises the construction of 
the building proper. 

The Bureau of Fire Prevention super¬ 
sedes the Building Bureau, as to the con¬ 
struction of fire escapes, etc., to the proper 
provision for exits and means of escape, the 
installation of fire appliances and fire pro¬ 
tection devices, enclosures about stairways, 
etc. 

The Municipal Explosives Commission 
formulates the rules and regulations for the 
sale, use, transportation and storage of all 
hazardous explosives and combustible ma¬ 
terial. The body that enf<prces these rules 
is known now as the Division of Combusti¬ 
bles, Bureau of Fire Prevention. 

This division makes surveys to see wheth¬ 
er the explosives, etc., are stored according 
to the rules of the Municipal Explosives 
Commission and to determine whether a 
permit may be granted for said storage. 
This Bureau or Division investigates the 
complaints as to the storage of volatile in¬ 
flammable liquids and other oils and com¬ 
bustible compounds. In a few cases, where 
special permits must be granted, the Divi¬ 
sion of Combustibles refers the application 
for permit to the Municipal Explosives 
Commission for their approval. This is 
done in cases not specifically covered by 
the regulations and in buildings or prem¬ 
ises of special hazards, such as garages, etc., 
such cases being stated in the new regula¬ 
tions. 

The Tenement House Department reg¬ 
ulates the construction of tenement houses, 
supervising the plans, erection, etc., and 
sees that the regulations of the Tenement 
House Act are enforced as to stairways. 

Through the Division of Combustibles, 
the Bureau of Fire Prevention regulates the 
storage of combustibles, drugs, chemicals, 
etc., in tenement houses and grants permits 
where same are safely stored. All doors or 


windows, openings, into halls of such tene¬ 
ments from paint stores, drug stores, etc., 
must be fire protected. Both departments 
work in conjunction to enforce this rule. 
No hay, excelsior, fibre, etc., is permitted 
in a tenement house. 

N. B.—Above answer was written at a 
time when the Municipal Explosives Com¬ 
mission was in existence. In 1914 the Mu¬ 
nicipal Explosives Commission was abol¬ 
ished, and the positions of Consulting En¬ 
gineer and Consulting Chemist in the Fire 
Department created. A Board of Hazardous 
Trades was then established in the Fire 
Department, having the above two consult¬ 
ing experts among the members. The Chief 
of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and the 
Deputy Commissioner of the Fire Depart¬ 
ment are the other two members. The 
duties performed by this body are along 
similar lines to those performed by the for¬ 
mer Commission. 

Ques. 5:—An Inspector reports on 12- 
story building, East 18th Street near 5th 
Avenue, 60 by ICO, having a U-shape plan 
with court, in rear centre, 12 feet wide, 22 
feet long; a fire escape, covering two win¬ 
dows, with balconies 4 feet wide, and escape 
ladders at 60°, goes down to top of a sky¬ 
light over first floor; thence by door to 
second floor hall and out; it also extends to 
roof with goose neck; four elevators with 
pumps always in action; a stairway encir¬ 
cles the elevators; the elevator shaft is en¬ 
closed with grill work; doors, partitions, 
floors are of wood; cellar and sub-cellar 
used for storage of supplies; each floor has 
100 employees on straw hats, feathers, pa¬ 
per boxes, etc. What structural provisions 
for fire prevention are necessary? In what 
respects has the present law not been com¬ 
plied with? Enumerate the auxiliary fire 
protection devices due to occupancy recom¬ 
mended for safety of property and life. The 
building erected in 1909 was converted to 
loft purposes in 1912. 

ANS.:—'The fire escape should terminate 
as to lead directly to the street, or the exit 
at the second floor should be provided with 
a fireproof door or window leading to fire¬ 
proof passageway with direct exit to the 
street or the fire escape should terminate 
directly in a court leading to the street. 
The elevator enclosure consisting of the 
elevator shaft, and the stairway should be 
enclosed by fireproof walls, with self-clos¬ 
ing fireproof doors opening into said enclos- 
sure. As building is 12 stories in height 
and approximately not more than 150 feet 
in height, interior trim of wood is allowed. 
If floors here mean only the top covering 
over the sleepers, then same is permissible, 
but if the entire floor construction is im¬ 
plied, then a violation exists as a building 
of this character must be entirely of fire¬ 
proof construction with the exception of 
wood doors, trims, casings and interior fin¬ 
ish when filled solid at the back with fire¬ 
proof material. Partitions should be of 
fireproof construction. 


Furthermore, the floor area of the build¬ 
ing being 6,000 square feet, three stairways 
must be present. There is one stairway, 
and if building is of fireproof construction 
throughout, an outside fire escape stairway 
may be taken as one of these. As the 
building is not fireproof throughout, two 
additional stairways must be erepted, the 
rule being one stairway for 2,500 square 
feet, two stairways for 5,000 square feet 
floor area and an additional stairway for 
every 5,000 square feet or part thereof up to 
15,000 square feet floor area, and then as 
the Commissioner may direct. The court 
space varies according to the height and 
should be changed to comply with the 
Building Code. 

A building of this character with so 
many employees should have a sprinkler 
system installed with the necessary tanks, 
etc. As the building does not exceed 150 
feet in height, a 4-inch standpipe riser, with 
proper connections, should be in place, with 
hose outlets, hose, etc., as required by the 
Code. All premises using combustible or 
hazardous materials, allowing cuttings and 
clippings to accumulate, should be pro¬ 
vided with sufficient fireproof receptacles 
for their storage, the floors to be cleaned 
twice a day, and the rubbish, etc., removed 
from the premises, at least once a day. 

Water buckets and sand buckets, chem¬ 
ical fire extinguishers should be provided 
on each floor, depending on the occupancy 
and whether volatile oils are in use or not. 
A fire drill should be instituted as per re¬ 
cent Act of the Legislature. Fire hooks and 
axes should be located about each floor, 
as the conditions require. Sufficient means 
of escape should be provided, as stated be¬ 
fore. All shafts, etc., should be enclosed by 
fireproof walls, with self-closing fireproof 
doors, at the openings. 

The storage of combustible liquids and 
compounds would be investigated and all 
volatile inflammable compounds stored in 
safety cans. Sufficient aisle space should 
be provided and the exits so located that 
not too great a distance must be traversed 
by an employee in order to reach some 
means of escape. Auxiliary fire alarms, time 
detectors, etc., should also be installed. 

Ques. 6:—On a whole block frontage of 
200 feet are two buildings each 100 feet 
deep. One is 100 feet high, the other 160 
feet. State the number, size and location 
of the standpipes required in each building, 
the size of hose outlets and hose require¬ 
ments according to Building Code. What 
auxiliary stationary fire prevention appa¬ 
ratus would you require in addition in each 
of these when the upper floors of the taller 
building are used for Association rooms and 
restaurant, the lower floors for wholesale 
silk salesrooms; the other building is used 
for various purposes, including candy mak¬ 
ing, printing, typewriter repair shop and 
rubber goods jobbing. 

ANS.:—In the building 100 feet in height 
the standpipe should be equipped with a 4- 
inch riser, located in the stairway enclo¬ 


sures, connected with gravity tank on the 
roof and Siamese connection at the side¬ 
walk, proper check valves, drip, with a hose 
outlet (2y 2 inches) on each floor and the 
roof. Sufficient approved hose to be at¬ 
tached to completely cover the entire floor 
area when in use. The above requirements 
are in force unless said building (not ex¬ 
ceeding 100 feet in height) is already 
equipped with a 3-inch or larger standpipe. 
In building 160 feet in height the stand¬ 
pipe riser must be 6 inches in diameter and 
be equipped with hose outlets, 2 l / 2 inches, 
on each floor and the roof, 2 l / 2 inches ap¬ 
proved hose of sufficient length to cover the 
entire floor area when said standpipe is in 
use. The general requirements as to tanks, 
etc., apply in both cases. There should be 
sufficient water buckets and chemical ex¬ 
tinguishers installed in the association 
rooms, also fire hooks and axes, auxiliary 
fire alarms, time detectors, exit signs and 
lights, etc. 

The restaurant should have fireproof re¬ 
ceptacles for refuse, etc. Ranges and heat¬ 
ing apparatus should be protected. In the 
silk salesrooms safety cans for any storage 
of volatile inflammable oils to remove stains 
and fireproof receptacles for cuttings, etc. 

In the lower building used for candy 
making see that drying room was properly 
constructed, heating ranges and boilers 
properly protected, fireproof cans for ref¬ 
use. 

Storage of any chemicals also regulated. 

Printing, see that fireproof receptacles 
installed for rubbish, motors and electric 
appliances properly protected, safety cans 
used for storage of volatile oils used to 
clean press. 

In typewriter repair shop, see that belt¬ 
ing and shafting properly protected, fire¬ 
proof receptacles, safety cans for volatile 
oil storage. 

Rubber goods jobbing. See that rubber 
cement and volatile inflammable oils prop¬ 
erly stored. Fireproof receptacles installed. 
No rubber shoddy allowed to accumulate. 

In all cases the lighting, heating and 
power apparatus would be looked after and 
protected. Signs with “No Smoking” in¬ 
stalled and water buckets and sand buckets 
installed according to the occupancy, the 
sand being used where volatile inflammable 
oils were stored. 

Ques. 7:—In a high class apartment 
house where it is desired to have consider¬ 
able wood trim in the dining rooms and li¬ 
braries, what structural conditions must be 
observed to reduce the fire risk on a given 
floor and its extension to others? What 
constitutes a fire partition? Desciibe it as 
to materials, thickness, etc. 

ANS.:—In order to diminish the fire risk 
on a given floor, the flooring should be 
backed by an incombustible filling resting 
on the arches and carried up above the 
sleepers to the back of the finished flooring. 
The beams should be fire-stopped by in¬ 
combustible material to prevent the spread 
of the fire to other beams. The beams 


should be imbedded in the various walls, 4 
inches of incombustible material to sepa¬ 
rate beams at least and no air spaces al¬ 
lowed. The interior finish should be filled 
solid at the back with fireproof material. 
Besides this, all the woodwork should be 
treated with a fireproof compound to make 
the same fire-resistive. 

A fireproof partition is one built up of 
incombustible material, so that it will re¬ 
sist and retard a fire and prevent same from 
spreading. Usually composed of terra cotta 
blocks in angle iron construction, concrete, 
reinforced wire lath, expanded metal and 
cement plaster, usually not less than 4 
inches in thickness. The thickness of the 
partition depending upon its location, height 
and the purposes for which it is to be used. 

Ques. 8:—An hotel was erected 10 years 
ago, 12 stories, 140 feet in height. The In¬ 
spectors have reported to the Chief Exam¬ 
iner that the building does not conform to 
the requirements of the law in reference to 
fire protection. What fire hazards are to 
be taken into account and what appliances 
and safety devices should be found in such 
a structure? State the various steps the Bu¬ 
reau would take in case the owner refuses, 
or neglects, to comply with your require¬ 
ments and persists in appealing. 

ANS.:—This hotel should be equipped 
with a standpipe equipment 4 inches in di¬ 
ameter, with gravity tanks, check valves, 
hose outlets, hose Siamese connections, etc., 
as specified in the Building Code. The num¬ 
ber of risers will depend upon the number 
of stairways in the building. Sufficient 
means of escape should be provided, in¬ 
cluding stairways (enclosed), fire escapes, 
etc. In each room there should be a dia¬ 
gram and signs as how to reach the exits. 
In the hallways should be signs, showing 
location of all exits. Exits to be equipped 
with red lights and globes. 

The spread of a fire must be prevented. 
In this respect all shaftways, openings, etc., 
light shafts, vent shafts, might not be prop¬ 
erly enclosed and steps would be taken to 
prevent a spread of fire through this source. 

There should be fire-stops, brick walls, 
with automatic fireproof doors at floor 
openings to sub-divide the building into 
sections and prevent the spread of fire from 
one section to another. This will depend 
upon the area of the building. Elevator 
shaftways and stairways might not be prop¬ 
erly enclosed and steps would be taken to 
prevent a spread of fire through this source. 
Beside all structural conditions that would 
cause a fire hazard, the contents of the 
building would be noted as to fire risks. 
The engine, boiler room, kitchen, coal room, 
etc. 

In the coal room, if same is not properly 
ventilated, and temperature conditions right, 
a fire would result from the spontaneous 
combustion of the coal, due to the gases 
generated. Too large a quantity of coal 
should not be stored in one place, and ven¬ 
tilating conditions should be adequate. In 
the engine room, the use of waste and oils 


should be looked after to prevent spontane¬ 
ous combustion, and proper receptacles 
(fireproof) would be provided to contain 
said waste until same could be removed 
from the premises. The conditions of the 
furnaces, etc., would be investigated to see 
if same are located near any combustible 
material and that proper safeguards are 
provided to counteract any such conditions. 

In the kitchen, the gas ranges and heat¬ 
ing furnaces and ovens would create a fire 
hazard, and the necessary precautions to 
be taken would be noted. Care must be 
taken in regard to fat boiling, and the dis¬ 
position of fatty and other waste, as a fire 
would result in this case also from spon¬ 
taneous combustion. Proper fireproof re¬ 
ceptacles would have to be provided in all 
cases where refuse, rubbish, waste, etc., is 
apt to be kept. The electric wiring, motors, 
switchboards, etc., would also create a fire 
hazard. Fireproof enclosures about motors 
and switchboards and properly insulated 
wires should exist. In fact, all power, heat 
and lighting apparatus, structural condi¬ 
tions, existence of combustible material that 
will cause a fire hazard, should be noted. 
Besides providing fireproof enclosures, fire¬ 
proof partitions and walls, the following 
would also be required: 

Water buckets, casks, fire hooks and axes, 
chemical extinguishers, fireproof receptacles 
(waste cans, with self-closing covers, in 
many instances), time detectors and watch¬ 
man’s service, telegraph communication to 
Fire Department Headquarters. 

In an appeal a Board of Survey meet at 
an appointed time and place at which a rep¬ 
resentative of the owner may be present. 
The decision of the Board of Survey is 
usually final, unless the owner still persists 
in protesting, in which case he may resort 
to an appeal to the Supreme Court for a 
writ of certiorari, which decision of the 
Supreme Court is final. In case the Fire 
Commissioner is upheld in his order and the 
owner refuses to comply, the Fire Com¬ 
missioner may, with his own equipment, 
cause the removal of the dangerous condi¬ 
tions (except the installation of fire appli¬ 
ances and repairing structural conditions, 
erection of fire escapes, etc.), or the Fire 
Commissioner can obtain a writ from the 
Supreme Court to vacate said premises and 
to have said premises remain vacant until 
the conditions are remedied. Before the 
owner can obtain a Board of Survey, he 
must file a bond of $100 (if the Fire Com¬ 
missioner so requests) to defray the ex¬ 
pense of said Board of Survey. This money 
is returned if the Board of Survey counter¬ 
mands the order and upholds the owner. 

Ques. 9:—What are the various fire haz¬ 
ards incidental to the department store? 
What auxiliary fire appliances should be 
provided? What recommendations would 
you make to safeguard the lives of custom¬ 
ers and employees throughout the building? 

ANS.:—The storage of a considerable 
amount of hazardous and inflammable ma¬ 
terial. The large area usually covered, al- 


231 


lowing a rapid spread of the flames. The 
conditions of the packing rooms, etc., where 
combustible fibres, etc., are stored. The 
conditions of engine boiler room, etc., the 
storage of coal, the conditions of the vari¬ 
ous light, heat and power apparatus, enclo¬ 
sures about stairways, etc., the presence of 
revolving doors at some of the entrances 
and exits, the storage of chemicals in drug 
department, and photographing department, 
the storage of alcohols and distilled liquors 
in liquor department. The storage of 
matches in the grocery department and the 
storage of ammunition in the sporting 
goods department, the storage of paints, 
varnishes, oils in furniture and repair de¬ 
partment. 

All department stores should be equipped 
with sprinkler systems, covering all offsets, 
extensions, stairways, etc. Should also be 
equipped with standpipe in stair wells, with 
sufficient hose to cover floor area. Fire- 
stops (brick walls, with automatic fireproof 
doors at all openings) to prevent the spread 
of fire. 

The building should be sub-divided so 
that fire will not consume the entire prem¬ 
ises. Water buckets, chemical fire extin¬ 
guishers, fire hooks and axes and casks of 
water should be installed about premises. 

Sufficient means of escape, both inside and 
outside building (fire escapes, towers, etc.), 
should be erected. Stairways and elevators 
to be in fireproof enclosures. The various 
exits should be distributed so that not too 
great a distance would have to be traversed 
to reach any such exit and all exits should 
be adequate for all employees and custom¬ 
ers. No revolving doors should be allowed 
or considered as part of an exit unless con¬ 
forming to requirements. Sufficient aisle 
space, with no counters or tables forming 
obstructions should be permitted. All fibres 
in packing rooms should be carried in metal 
lined bins (fireproof receptacles), and fire¬ 
proof receptacles to be provided for all 
other waste products, and safety cans and 
proper containers for the storage of all 
volatile inflammable oils, compound or com¬ 
bustible chemicals stored within the 
premises. Anything that would tend to 
prevent a spread of fire, extinguish same in 
its incipiency, and allow the free and un¬ 
obstructed egress of all occupants in case 
of emergency. 

Ques. 10:—What action will you take in 
the following cases, or what precautionary 
measures would you insist upon when the 
Inspectors report to you (a) that one of the 
Federal buildings in the City lacks ade¬ 
quate fire protection equipment? (b) A 
drug store has 50 pounds of picric acid, 20 
carboys of sulphuric acid and 50 pounds of 
collodion stored on the top floor, (c) A 
warehouse has stored on one floor an 
amount of powdered starch equal to one- 
half the allowable floor load, (d) A fat 
boiling establishment is in the back part 
of the basement and the bake oven in the 
front part under a bakery on the first floor 
of a six-story tenement house, (e) That a 


three-story dwelling house has a garage on 
the lowest floor. 

ANS.:—(a) Notify the Federal authori¬ 
ties of the conditions existing and request 
them to remedy the same. Point out the 
necessity for them and show that the Fire 
Department is endeavoring to protect 
lives and property and that they should aid 
in every way and not try to hinder or raise 
objections of municipal interference in Fed¬ 
eral conditions. If conditions requiring 
remedies exist, said remedies should be in¬ 
sisted upon until said Federal authorities 
comply with the laws and ordinances of the 
City and State. 

(b) Presuming that a wholesale drug 
store is implied, the report of the Inspector 
would be referred to the Division of Com¬ 
bustibles for immediate attention and re¬ 
port. The storage of excess quantities 
would be noted, and also the relative stor¬ 
age. Said chemicals are not to be stored 
so that one increases the energy of decom¬ 
position of the other, or causes a reaction 
resulting in an explosion or fire. The Divi¬ 
sion of Combustibles through oil surveyors 
would make a thorough investigation of the 
conditions of the storage, segregate them 
properly for permit to store said combus- 
tibles, and, after a survey, determining 
whether all the rules and regulations have 
been complied with, issue said permit if 
conditions are safe and the rules of the 
Department and the regulations of the Mu- 
nicipal Explosives Commission have been 
complied with. 

(c) Order in fireproof receptacles for the 
storage of said powdered starch and have 
same distributed so that no starch dust 
would be created and apt to cause a dust- 
explosion, in the event of any fire or flame 
being near. If the starch dust is kept in 
fireproof receptacles and distributed about 
the floor, so that safe bearing capacity of 
the floor is not exceeded and all fire and 
flame and exterior sparking apparatus prop¬ 
erly protected, the danger would be greatly 
minimized. The ventilation of the floor and 
the location of the starch in relation to 
lights and sparks, etc., in other rooms, apt 
to be reached through openings in the 
walls due to shafting, etc., would have to 
be noted and dangerous conditions ordered 
remedied by serving the Official Fire Pre¬ 
vention Order and enforcing same. 

(d) Refer the conditions noted by the 
Inspector to the Tenement House Depart¬ 
ment through the official channels for the 
remedying of any violations that may exist. 
(No fat boiling establishment is allowed in 
a tenement house, unless same is of fire¬ 
proof construction, or unless all exposed 
girders, ceiling, side walls, etc., within place 
where the fat boiling is done, are protected 
by fireproof materials. The subject would 
come under the jurisdiction of the Tene¬ 
ment House Department and would be for¬ 
warded there, as stated previously.) 

(e) Presuming that a garage is meant 
where gasoline is stored other than fuel 
tanks of the automobiles, the complaint 
would be referred to the Division of Corn- 


232 


bustibles for immediate attention and re¬ 
port. It would depend whether the garage 
is being used for public purposes or for the 
individual use of the occupant, and also on 
the number of families living in said house, 
and the construction of said house. All 
these would decide whether the Division of 
Combustibles would issue a permit to store 
gasoline, after the same had been forwarded 
to the Municipal Explosives Commission 
for approval, as stated in the regulations of 
said commission. If no gasoline is stored 
other than in the fuei tanks of the cars, and 
building is occupied as a dwelling only by 
the owner or his employee, then a permit 
might be granted by the Division of Com¬ 
bustibles provided the various rules under 
the heading of Garages in the regulations 
are complied with, such as sand buckets, 
waste cans, drip pans, etc. In any case the 
complaint would be referred to the Divi¬ 
sion of Combustibles, Bureau of Fire Pre¬ 
vention, to determine after an inspection 
by an oil surveyor whether the conditions 
warrant the issuing of a permit. If viola¬ 
tions exist a Fire Department Order is is¬ 
sued to remedy the same. 

EXPERIENCE. 

Weight 8. 

(To be sworn to.) 

(To Be Finished by 4 P. M.) 

NOTE:—Candidates are expected to give 
accurate and concise replies. Evasive or 
incomplete statements have no merit. As 
all statements are investigated, false state¬ 
ments will invalidate the paper. 

1. State your age and length of residence 
in the City. 

2. Give a brief account of your education, 
giving dates. 

3. What has been your experience in an 
executive, administrative or confidential po¬ 
sition? State positions held, dates, length 
of service and nature of duties. 

4. What has been your experience as 
builder, architect or contractor? Give places, 
dates, length of service and nature of du¬ 
ties. 

5. What experience have you had as In¬ 
spector in any line relating to fire hazards 
or building constructions? Give dates, po¬ 
sitions, length of service, etc. 

6. What engineering or other experience 

have you had? State special facts, dates, 
etc. . , 

7. What books or magazines in the line 
of proposed duties are you familiar with? 

8. Give the names and addresses of at 
least three persons who can vouch for your 
statements above. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
DEPUTY CHIEF. 

Bureau Fire Prevention. 

Date: Sept. 16, 1915. 

NOTE:—Only seven competed in this ex¬ 
amination and none of them passed. 


DUTIES—Weight 4. 

PART I. 

(To be finished by 1.30 P. M.) 

NOTE:—While full and complete answers 
are required, candidates are particularly cau¬ 
tioned against using irrelevant or extraneous 
matter. Brevity and conciseness covering 
the required points are desired. Credit will 
be given to clear and pertinent sketches. 

1. What is a fireproof building from the 
standpoint of inflammable occupation or in¬ 
terior hazard? 

2. State your views, preferably supple¬ 
mented by sketch, of the best type ot col¬ 
umn and girder construction in reintorced 
concrete buildings. From the flre-resisting 
standpoint, what is the best order of con¬ 
struction of beams, girders and slabs? 

3. Discuss the relative merits, from the 
fire-resisting standpoint, of the following 
materials for column construction: (a) metal 
lath and plaster; (b) terra cotta; (c) con¬ 
crete; (d) brick. 

4. Discuss the life hazard in building con¬ 
struction as it relates to stairs and exits. 

5. How can the basic principle of com¬ 
plete isolation be carried out in a loft build¬ 
ing used for manufacturing as an entirety 
or in its several floors without interfering 
with its utility or occupancy? 

6. Where hotels and department stores 
are connected to subway stations; what spe¬ 
cial hazards are involved, and what protec¬ 
tion would you recommend? 

7. From the standpoint of the Fire Pre¬ 
vention Bureau compare the hazards in¬ 
volved for power and lighting in (a) private 
installation; (b) storage battery charged 
from gas engine generator set; (c) Edison 
Company direct connection. 

8. Describe operation of the fixed temper¬ 
ature automatic fire alarm and give the gen¬ 
eral arrangement of circuits. What inspec¬ 
tion of thermostats should be made? 

PART II. 

(To be finished by 5 P. M.) 

9. Make diagrammatic sketches of any 
three of the following: (a) Approved auto¬ 
matic fire door; (b) automatic sprinkler 
head; (c) automatic supply valve, dry pipe 
system; (d) arrangement of boilers and 1,000 
gallon steam pump for a sprinkler system; 
(e) 150 K. W. air cooled transformer; (f) 
method of attaching an outside fire escape to 
a brick building. 

These sketches may be made free hand in 
a manner such as the Deputy Chief would 
employ for instruction to his subordinates or 
discussion with owners. 

10. Give safe bending stresses for (a) yel¬ 
low pine; (b) mild steel; (c) cast iron; (d) 
plain concrete. Compute the approximate 
discharge of a two-inch wrought iron pipe 
2,000 feet long, under a head of 50 feet. 
State the theory of flow as applied to this 
particular problem. 



11. What is the present practice relative to 
the storage and handling of explosives: (a) 
in the City aqueduct, Board of Water Sup¬ 
ply; (b) for the subway excavations, Public 
Service Commission—brief statement. 

What inspections should be made relative 
to the transporting of explosives to docks 
and loading for foreign ports? 

12. What conditions brought about the de¬ 
velopment of the Underwriter steam fire 
pump? How does it differ from the ordi¬ 
nary trade pump? 

13. What authority has the Fire Preven¬ 
tion Bureau on exits and fire escapes in lofts 
and factories? How would you reduce the 
life hazard in cases where your power is 
limited and the authorized body fails to act? 

14. A 6-story building 50 foot front, with 
5,500 square feet area to each floor, is of or¬ 
dinary non-fireproof construction, built in 
1885 and up to recently was used as a retail 
furniture and rug store. A stairway and ele¬ 
vator shaft are separated on three sides from 
the remainder of the building by a 2-inch 
pine partition with 4 inches x 4 inches stud¬ 
ding, the fourth side forming the party wall 
12 inches thick. The floors are 1-inch pine 
with 3 inches x 10 inches floor beams with 
plaster and wire lath ceilings. The basement 
contains a steam power plant, 40 horse pow¬ 
er boiler, enclosed by galvanized iron parti¬ 
tions, while the engine is located in the main 
basement area, where several unbroken 
boxes containing ink are stored. The first 
floor has 65 employees in the manufacture 
of ink; the second floor 70 employees in the 
cleaning and blocking of felt and straw hats. 
The third floor is devoted to the manufac¬ 
ture of cotton garments, with 50 employees. 
The fourth floor is used as a bookbindery, 
with 45 employees. The fifth and sixth floors 
are unoccupied. 

An order has been drawn up for a com¬ 
plete sprinkler system among other require¬ 
ments. The owner protests that the sprink¬ 
lers will cost $2,500 and states that it cre¬ 
ates a considerable hardship, and that the 
present occupancy is temporary, probably 
not exceeding two years, and that his reve¬ 
nue from the property has been very small 
for some time past. He is willing, in lieu 
of the ordered requirement, to install nec¬ 
essary fire escapes, front and rear, provide 
fireproof receptacles on all floors occupied, 
four chemical extinguishers on each floor 
and make four-inch connection and hose 
with each floor to a 2,000-gallon tank, not at 
present in use, located on a neighboring 
roof. Investigation shows that the owner 
is acting in good faith, and further that there 
is some likelihood of the building being con¬ 
demned in a few years to make way for a 
public improvement. The record shows, how¬ 
ever, that repeated violations have been re¬ 
ported as to cleaning up and keeping fire 
pails full of water. 

Make a report on this matter covering at 
least three pages with recommendations. 

. ( Do not sign any name, number, initials, 
title or any mark of any kind to this report. 
If you do you will be disqualified.) 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

FIRE DRILL EXPERT. 

Date: Jan. 31, 1916. 
DUTIES—Weight 5. 

(To be finished by 1.30 P. M.) 

1. Describe those features in the construc¬ 
tion and maintenance of the ordinary insti¬ 
tution building which, in your opinion, re¬ 
quire attention and scrutiny as furnishing 
possible sources of hostile conflagration. 

In what order would you, as Fire Pre¬ 
vention and Fire Drill Expert, address your¬ 
self to such features or conditions? Give 
reasons for your answer. 

2. Describe five types of auxiliary fire ap¬ 
pliances that may prove useful in extinguish¬ 
ing or checking the spread of fire. 

3. (a) What facts would you seek to as¬ 
certain in your initial inspection of the “fire 
pails” in an institution building? Give rea¬ 
sons for your answer. 

(b) What considerations would guide you 
in determining the number and distribution 
of fire pails for a large building? 

4. Describe the manner in which a chem¬ 
ical extinguisher should be tested. State the 
formula for a solution that can be used with 
success in a chemical extinguisher. 

5. (a) Describe the proper scope of a fire 
drill in its broadest sense. 

(b) What information do you consider 
necessary to enable you to fix intelligently 
upon the plan of the fire drill to be-installed 
in a given institution? 

6. Aside from the matter of plan or con¬ 
struction of building, what circumstance or 
condition would be likely to prove some¬ 
thing in the nature of an obstacle to a per¬ 
son engaged in installing fire drills in each 
of the following? 

(a) Municipal Lodging House harboring 
persons for indefinite period; 

(b) General hospital; 

(c) Home for the aged and infirm; 

(d) Retormatory. 

7. Describe two artificial or mechanical 
aids which, in your opinion, would prove 
useful in effecting speedy egress of inmates 
from a building in case of emergency. 

8. Describe in detail the plan you would 
follow in testing thoroughly a fire drill 
which had been installed by you in a public 
charitable institution. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
FIRE DRILL EXPERT. 

Fire Department. 

Date: July 28, 1915. 

DUTIES. 

Weight 5. 

Ques. 1:—(a) Explain the distinction be¬ 
tween automatic and auxiliary fire alarm 
systems. 

(b) Define “trouble signals.” 


234 



(c) Describe the signaling devices ordi¬ 
narily used in conjunction with fire alarm 
systems in buildings. 

Ques. 2:—(a) State the considerations 
that would guide you in determining the dis¬ 
tribution and location of chemical fire ex¬ 
tinguishers throughout an institution build¬ 
ing containing a large number of inmates 
and the several departments incident to 
their maintenance. 

(b) Describe the contents of chemical 
fire extinguishers of approved type. 

(c) State the four rules you would em¬ 
phasize most strongly in teaching persons 
the proper use of chemical fire extinguish¬ 
ers. 

(d) Mentione five kinds of fires for which 
the chemical extinguisher is especially 
adapted. 

Ques. 3:—(a) Compare the dry-powder 
fire extinguishers and the water pail from 
the standpoint of efficiency. 

(b) Describe the conditions under which 
the water pail (fire pail) may prove unreli¬ 
able. 

(c) Discuss the use and value of the sand 
pail as a protective device. 

(d) Describe the proper material, size, 
shape and location for the ordinary water or 
fire pail. 

Ques. 4:—Describe fully the hazards pres¬ 
ent in each of the following places and state 
the manner in which such hazards should 
be safeguarded. 

(a) A room or building used for storing 
and mixing oils and paints. 

(b) A “picker room” where moss, hair or 
excelsior, etc., is picked. 

(c) The “dry room” connected with a 
large laundry. 

(d) A drug-supply room. 

Ques. 5:—(a) Describe the Kirker-Bender 
fire escape and give your opinion as to its 
adaptability and value. 

(b) Describe the “counter-balanced” type 
of fire escape. 

(c) How may the discharging capacity 
of any means of egress be determined? 

Ques. 6 and 7:—Outline a plan for the 
organization of a fire-fighting brigade in 
each of the institutions named below. The 
plan should cover, in each case, the person¬ 
nel of the brigade; the duties of its mem¬ 
bers; the character, scope, control and fre¬ 
quency of the test drills. 

(a) A municipal lodging house harboring 
and feeding men and women for indefinite 
periods ranging from one week on. 

(b) A large general hospital. 

(c) A home for the aged and infirm. 

NOTE 1:—In the cases of the lodging 

house and hospitail, it may be assured that 
both institution buildings are equipped with 
standpipes on each floor, an adequate num¬ 
ber of chemical fire extinguishers, water 
pails, axes and hooks, all properly located, 


and approved interior fire alarm and signal¬ 
ling systems. 

NOTE 2:—The home for the aged and in¬ 
firm may be supposed to comprise several 
separate buildings, including males and fe¬ 
males “barracks” or sleeping quarters, din¬ 
ing pavilions, a hospital, industrial building 
or work shop, boiler and engine shop, boiler 
and engine house, general storehouse and 
the administration building. The latter is 
connected with each of the other buildings 
by telephone. A suitable number of chem¬ 
ical fire extinguishers and water pails is 
distributed properly among the several 
buildings. A large-capacity chemical tank 
on wheels and its accompanying portable 
reel of hose are stationed in the administra¬ 
tion building. 

Ques. 8:—(a) State what you understand 
to be the main objects of fire drills. 

(b) Describe the practicable systems em¬ 
ployed in directing and controlling the ac¬ 
tions and movements of persons in fire 
drills. 

(c) State the general considerations that 
should govern the frequency of fire drills 
practice in a building. 

Ques. 9 and 10:—Describe the fire drills 
you would install in each of the three in¬ 
stitutions mentioned in questions 6 and 7, 
covering the following points: 

(a) The supervisory organization, its per¬ 
sonnel and work, both routine and occa¬ 
sional. 

(b) Character, scope and direction of 
drills. 

(c) Control of drills. 

NOTE 1:—The lodging house is a six- 
story structure with a stairway at one end 
and a stairway and elevator at the opposite 
end. A third stairway is located in the cen¬ 
ter of the building at the front. Dormitories 
are located on the second, third, fourth and 
fifth floors, one on a floor, and each afford¬ 
ing sleeping accommodations for the ninety 
persons in double-tier beds. The second 
floor is for female lodgers exclusively. The 
sixth floor contains twenty-five small bed¬ 
rooms for the long-term lodgers, who are 
in reality permanent but non-official em¬ 
ployes. All other lodgers are transient and 
remain for periods ranging from one week 
upwards. The official staff consists of a 
male superintendent, his female assistant, an 
engineer and firemen. The first floor of the 
building is occupied by the dining rooms, 
kitchen, offices and reception room. Store¬ 
room, laundry and fumigating chamber are 
located in the cellar, while the boilers, en¬ 
gines and dynamos take up the sub-cellar. 

NOTE 2:—The hospital is a four-story 
structure with a basement. It has four stair¬ 
ways, one at either end of the building and 
two in the center. The building is equipped 
with two Kirker-Bender fire escapes located 
in the rear of the structure and at opposite 
ends. As mentioned before, the institution 
is a general hospital caring for about 400 
women and 400 men and having an adequate 
staff of physicians and employes. 


NOTE 3:—The sleeping quarters in the 
home for the aged and infirm are three-story 
structures with outside balconies extending 
around each of the two upper floors. Two 
outside, but non-continuous, stairways lead 
from balcony to balcony on the opposite 
sides of each building. The male “barracks,” 
or sleeping quarters, houses 850 men and 40 
employes, while that for the women accom¬ 
modates 600 inmates and 40 employes. 
There are two separate buildings for 
the crippled and blind, one for men 
and the other for women. These are two- 
story structures with two inside and nar¬ 
row winding stairways at opposite ends and 
an outside stairway leading from the bal¬ 
cony to the ground. Seventy blind people 
are cared for on the upper floor of each 
building and 70 crippled persons on the 
ground floor. Five employes are stationed 
in each of these buildings. A telephone 
switchboard in the administration building 
connects with all structures comprising the 
home. The boiler and engine house is situ¬ 
ated a short distance from the administra¬ 
tion building. 

NOTE 4:—As in questions 6 and 7, it 
may be assumed for the purpose of an¬ 
swering questions 9 and 10 that both lodg¬ 
ing house and hospital are equipped with 
approved interior signaling systems. 

REPORT. 

Weight 1. 

Write a report of not less than 200 words, 
addressed to the Commissioner of Public 
Charities, on the following topics: 

1. The necessity of having inquiries made 
as to the cause, origin and circumstances of 
every fire occurring in an institution build¬ 
ing. 

2. The plan you, as Fire Drill Expert, 
would follow in making such investigations. 

Do not sign name, number, initials, title 
or any mark of any kind to this report. If 
you do, you will be disqualified. 

In rating this letter consideration will be 
given, not only to spelling, punctuation, 
grammar, composition, etc., but also to the 
value of the opinions expressed. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ASST. INSP. OF COMBUSTIBLES, 
New York Fire Dept. 

Date: Dec. 18, 1912. 

DUTIES—Weight 6. 

(To be finished by 2 P. M.) 

1. Define each of the following terms: (a) 
Kerosene or kerosene oil; (b) smokeless 
powder; (c) electric fuse; (d) saltpetre; (e) 
safety fuse. 

2. (a) State in detail the information 
which the applicant who desires to open a 
garage must furnish in his written appli¬ 


cation to the Fire Commissioner before a 
license is issued to him. 

(b) State the several conditions as to 
occupancy or construction which may be 
found to exist in a building intended to be 
used as a garage, or in nearby buildings, 
which would prevent the use of the build¬ 
ing for such a purpose. 

(c) Under what conditions may a permit 
be obtained for the sale or storage of high 
explosives? 

(d) Name five high explosives and state 
the conditions required in the transporta¬ 
tion of high explosives through the city. 

3. By what peculiar characteristics would 
you be able to recognize each of the fol¬ 
lowing substances: (a) Sodium; (b) mag¬ 
nesium; (c) potash; (d) crude petroleum; 

(e) nitrous oxide? 

4. (a) Mention five substances which 
either singly or in combination with other 
substances are liable to explosion in sun¬ 
light. 

(b) What dangerous substance is formed 
by the prolonged exposure of ether to sun¬ 
light? 

(c) Name five substances or compounds 
liable to spontaneous ignition. 

(d) Specify five of the common causes of 
combustion. 

5. (a) What precautions would you ad¬ 
vise for preventing fire where large quan- 
ties of sulphur are stored? Kerosene 
products? Furniture and floor polishes? 
Carbolic acid? Unslaked lime? Give rea¬ 
sons in each case. 

(b) It is found necessary to remove a 
mass of rock preparatory to erecting an 
apartment house. Explain fully the condi¬ 
tions and the method with which it is 
necessary to comply in doing the blasting. 

6. Name two dangerous substances used 
in each of the following trades or busi¬ 
nesses: (a) Photo-engraving; (b) the man¬ 
ufacture of oilcloth and linoleum; (c) bak¬ 
eries; (d) clothing factories; (e) breweries. 

In your answer to the above question do 
not name the same substance more than 
once. 


7. (a) How are dust explosions caused, 
and upon what condition does the degree of 
violence attending such explosions depend? 

(b) State the kind of businesses in which 
dust explosions are apt to occur. 

8. (a) Tell why certain compounds are 
called “carriers of oxygen,” and explain why 
these compounds are in a great many cases 
extremely dangerous. Name five well- 
known carriers of oxygen. 

(b) Give with detailed explanation in each 
case the four causes of acid explosions. 

9. (a) Specify a substance or material 
that may be spontaneously ignited from 
each of the following causes: (a) Storage 
in large heaps; (b) protracted or slow dry¬ 
ing; (c) fineness of division of the par¬ 
ticles; (d) friction, pressure or shock; (e) 
contact with spongy metals. 

(b) In the examples you give, state in 
which of them the development toward 
spontaneous ignition is slow, those that 
progress with a moderate rapidity, and 


236 



those that are of a sudden and explosive 
nature. 

(To be finished at 2 P. M.) 

10. Write a report of at least 250 words 
to the Fire Commissioner, stating certain 
dangerous conditions you found to exist, 
while making an inspection of a factory in 
which chemicals and drugs are manufac¬ 
tured and stored, and give the remedies 
that you believe should be enforced to elim¬ 
inate or lessen the dangers you mention. 

Do not sign any name, number, initials 
or title, or you will be disqualified. 

EXPERIENCE—Weight 4. 

(To be sworn to.) 

Full, accurate, clear and concise answers 
are required. Investigation of the correct¬ 
ness of your statements will be made. Any 
false statement will result in disqualification 
in this and future examinations. 

1. State your age and length of residence 
in the city. 

2. Give a brief account of your education, 
with dates, schools, etc. 

3. State fully and definitely what tech¬ 
nical or professional training you have had, 
including the study of chemistry, or any 
subjects pertaining to explosives, their com¬ 
position, nature and hazards. 

4. State in detail what experience you 
have had in keeping, handling, transport¬ 
ing or using explosives of any kind. Give 
time employed, places, kinds of explosive, 
and names of your employers or superiors 
in such experience. 

5. What experience have you had as an 
inspector or investigator along any lines, 
whether in City Department or in private 
business enterprise? Give dates, names of 
employers and nature of your work in each 
instance. 

6. Give an account of your work during 
each of the first five years after you left 
school, and also during each of the last 
five years, stating duties, employers, places, 
and salary received. 

7. Give the names and addresses of three 
persons to whom reference may be made, 
who can verify your statements as given in 
answers written in this paper. 

NOTE.—If for any reason candidates do 
not wish reference made to present em¬ 
ployers, they should so state, and if pos¬ 
sible their wish will be complied with. The 
reason should be given. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ASST. INSP. COMBUSTIBLES, 

Fire Department. 

DUTIES. 

Date: August 23, 1899. 

1. With what Department of the City 
government is the Bureau of Combustibles 


connected? What other bureaus in same de¬ 
partment? 

2. What is the special business of the Bu¬ 
reau of Combustibles? 

3. What licenses or permits are issued from 
this Bureau? 

4. What is meant by “high explosives”? 
What is the essential difference between dy¬ 
namite and dualin? 

5. Name three high explosives not included 
among nitroglycerine mixtures. 

6. In what way are druggists and retail 
grocers subject to the supervision of the Bu¬ 
reau of Combustibles? 

7.. What would you do, in your capacity of 
Assistant Inspector of Combustibles, in case 
a so-called “infernal machine” were brought 
to you by a policeman for examination? 

8. At what temperature will nitroglycerine 
explode when not exposed to mechanical shock 
of any description? Define the term “detona¬ 
tion.” 

9. What vegetable products are subject to 
strict regulations and supervision of the Bu¬ 
reau of Combustibles? 

10. How is the possibility of fire in the¬ 
aters and other places of amusement guarded 
against, and under whose immediate supervi¬ 
sion are such places? 

11. Name a number of drugs and chemicals 
which require care in storage to avoid fire 
or explosion. 

12. State as fully as possible the require¬ 
ments of the law with regard to the storage 
and sale of kerosene oil. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
OIL SURVEYOR, 

(Asst. Insp. Combustibles) 

Fire Department. 

Date: Oct. 30, 1907. 

SPECIAL. 

1. (a) How is the Municipal Explosives 
Commission constituted? (b) What proper¬ 
ties must materials have in order to bring 
them within the scope of the regulations of 
this Commission? 

2. (a) How is the Bureau of Combustibles 
organized? (b) What are its duties? 

3. What precautions should be observed in 
the storage of oxygen-carrying materials? Of 
volatile combustible liquids? Of volatile in¬ 
flammable liquids? State reasons in each case. 

4. Why are nitrates, ethers and fulminates 
dangerous? State the reasons in each case. 

5. You find in the course of a survey that 
a meat packer, using saltpeter, has an estab¬ 
lishment on the ground floor of a fireproof 
building, the cellar floor of which is used for 
the storage of aniline dyes. Would you re¬ 
gard such an arrangement as dangerous ? State 
your reasons. 

6. What trades and manufactures do you 
think would require your special supervision? 
Give your reasons in each case. 

7. You are sent to make a survey before 


237 




granting a license for a garage. What mat¬ 
ters would you investigate? 

8. What precautions should be observed in 
the handling, storage and transportation of 
blasting materials? 

9. What matters would you investigate in 
inspecting a wholesale drug store? 

10. What is acetylene? What precaution 
do you think should be observed in the manu¬ 
facture and storage of acetylene? What is 
guncotton? What precautions should be ob¬ 
served in its transportation? 

ARITHMETIC 

1. A safety can, cylindrical in shape, is 60 
inches long and the area of the top is 192.5 
square inches. What is its capacity in gal¬ 
lons? (1 gallon equals 231 cubic inches.) 

2. Not more than 50 pounds of saltpeter 
may be kept in a retail drug store and not 
more than 400 pounds in a factory. At this 
ratio how would you distribute 800 pounds 
among four retail drug stores? 

3. What is the capacity of a tank 2^ feet 
long, 2 z /$ feet wide, and 3 1-3 feet deep? 

4. A contractor had 8 pounds of 50 per 
cent, dynamite and 9 pounds of 60 per cent, 
dynamite. To how many pounds of 40 per 
cent, dynamite is this equivalent? 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
OIL SURVEYOR, 

(Asst. Insp. Combustibles) 

Fire Department. 
TECHNICAL. 

Date: March 17, 1902. 

1. What is the end intended to be gained 
by collecting samples of oil? 

2. Take any three highly combustible ar¬ 
ticles, exclusive of petroleum products, and 
tell the amount allowed to be on storage in 
any one place. 

3. How would you try to find out all the 
places, licensed and unlicensed, in the district 
to which you were assigned, where petroleum 
was stored or sold? 

4. If you found that a licensed dealer in 
petroleum did not display his license in accord¬ 
ance with the law, would you warn him or 
content yourself with reporting the fact to the 
Bureau of Combustibles? Give reasons with 
your answer. 

5. To what extent do you consider that an 
oil collector would be justified in going to 
assure himself that the samples he collected 
were of the same quality, etc., as the stock 
on sale? 

6. Can you suggest any way by which you 
can make sure that in case of a lawsuit you 
could be in a position to prove that the sample 
collected was a fair sample of the goods on 
sale; in other words, that if there was any 
difference the dealer would have to prove 
that he had not tampered with his goods after 
the sample was taken? 


7. What do you consider to be your duty 
in case you find an unlicensed dealer selling 
petroleum ? 

8. Assuming such facts as you please, make 
a report on an inspection of three different 
places, the facts differing in each case. 

ARITHMETIC. 

1. Add: 

1759654372 

1789654782 

2345678999 

2796857463 

1897159415 

77855678 

6833 

978643 

76985649 

2578934567 

1837894522 

2324355768 

4367897678 

2. Multiply 47,089 by 60.94. 

3. What is 37 per cent, of 17,896.05? 

4. Divide 332,658 by 78,967. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
OIL SURVEYOR, 

(Asst. Insp. Combustibles) 

Fire Department. 

TECHNICAL. 

1. What in general do you consider the 
duties of a surveyor? 

2. As used by the Fire Department, what 
is the. meaning of the word “explosive,” and 
of “high explosive”? Name three “high ex¬ 
plosives.” 

3. What are the necessary qualifications and 
the required examination of persons applying 
for permits to deal with explosives? 

4. May explosives be manufactured in the 
city? If so, where and under what condi¬ 
tions? 

5. State the general rules governing the 
packing of explosives for transportation. 

6. What is the weight limit of explosives 
to be carried in conveyances which are also 
used for conveying passengers; in convey¬ 
ances not used for conveying passengers? 
What further restriction is there as to con¬ 
veyances of the first class? 

7. Between what hours is it forbidden to 
transport explosives in conveyances of the 
second class? 

8. Permits for the sale of explosives will 
be forbidden when the building for which the 
permit is desired is used for certain kinds of 
business. Give a list of those kinds of busi¬ 
ness. 

9. Permits for the sale of explosives within 
certain portions of the city will be refused. 
Give the boundaries of these portions. 

10. What is required and what is forbidden 
when frozen cartridges and explosives are to 
be thawed? 


238 




MATHEMATICS. 

1. Add: 

354408008 

332998336 

307048873 

324514284 

329691697 

344505427 

355052675 

358742034 

306073281 

339499883 

318576711 

311699454 

279217788 

2. At 15 cents per pound, what is the cost 
of lead, 5 pounds to a square foot, to line 
a tank 6 feet by feet, and 5 feet deep? 

3. A yacht race took place in English 
waters August 4, 1894, which resulted as 
follows: Yachts started at 10 o’clock, 30 
minutes, 5 seconds. The Vigilant completed 
the course, which was 48 miles, at 2 o’clock, 
36 minutes, 15 seconds; the Britannia at 3 
o’clock, 41 minutes, 43 seconds. By how 
much did the Vigilant beat her rival? 
What was her Average rate per hour? 

4. The capital stock of a bank is $500,000. 
and the net earnings for the last quarter are 
$12,248.50. What is the largest even rate 
of dividend that the directors can declare, 
and what sum will be carried to the sur¬ 
plus? 

5. A contractor requires 64 days to pave 
a street, when his men work 9 hours a day. 
How many days will he require when his 
men work 8 hours a day? 

6. I built a house costing $5,000 upon a 
lot which cost $899. The house being 
burned, the insurance company paid me 60 
per cent, of the cost of the house. I then 
sold the land for $1,200; did I gain or lose 
by the transaction, and what per cent.? 

REPORT. 

Write a report of an inspection of prem¬ 
ises where explosives are stored, where a 
violation of the law is discovered, stating 
fully the facts—assuming such as you 
please—and your action. 

This report is to be pronerly dated and 
addressed to the proper officer, and signed 
with your number and not your name. 


FIRE PREVENTION DON’TS. 

(Issued by the Fire Prevention Bureau of 
the New York Fire Department.) 

1. Don’t allow children to play with 
matches. 

2. Don’t block the fire escapes, you may 
need them yourself to-night. 

3. Don’t leave everything to the land¬ 
lord; inspect your own house from cellar 
to garret and locate all exits. 

4. Don’t throw away lighted matches, 
cigars or cigarettes. 


5. Don’t go into dark closets, bed rooms, 
or cellars, using matches or candles to light 
your way. 

6. Don’t use insecticides in the vicinity of 
open flame lights. Many such compounds 
contain volatile inflammable oils. 

7. Don’t use kerosene, benzine or naphtha 
in lighting fires, or to quicken a slow fire— 
it may result in death. 

8. Don’t use gasoline or benzine to clean 
clothing near an open flame, light or fire. 

9. Don’t use alcohol lamps, especially if 
made of glass; they often break and the 
fluid is ignited at once. 

10. Don’t fill any lamp with gasoline, 
kerosene or other oils while the lamp is 
lighted. Keep the burners of all oil lamps 
thoroughly clean. 

11. Don’t fill kerosene lamps after dark 
or within 15 feet of the lights or fire. 

12. Don’t use oils with a low flash point. 

13. Don’t put ashes in wooden boxes or 
barrels. Keep ashes away from boards. 
Don’t place them on dumbwaiters or in 
closets. Hot ashes will take fire by them¬ 
selves, as they frequently have small bits 
of coal mixed in with them. 

14. Don’t accumulate rubbish in premises, 
cellars or workshops, and don’t deposit 
such material on dumbwaiters unless it is 
to be removed at once; while awaiting re¬ 
moval, keep such material in covered metal- 
lined receptacles. 

15. Don’t use candles on Christmas trees. 

16. Don’t accumulate old beds and bed¬ 
ding or other trash in cellars. 

17. Don’t keep matches in anything but a 
closed metal receptacle. 

18. Don’t allow delivery boys to tie back 
the dumbwaiter doors in cellars; by this 
means cellar fires spread throughout build¬ 
ings. 

19. Don’t have storage closets under stair¬ 
ways or near dumbwaiter shafts._ Fires in 
these places cut off your main exit. 

20. Don’t store oils, paints, grease or fats 
in the house. Keep them outside,. if pos¬ 
sible. If you must have such things on 
hand, use a metal box or bin with a lid. 

21. Don’t put in the ash barrel such arti¬ 
cles as greasy paper bags, oily rags or 
waste which has been used to wipe machin¬ 
ery. Such articles cause many fires. Burn 
these things up immediately after use. 

22. Don’t neglect to have the chimney flue 
cleaned once a year. You are responsible, 
not your landlord. 

23. Don’t have lace curtains in vicinity of 
gas jets. 

24. Don’t leave holes in the flooring, walls 
or ceiling. These enable fire to travel 
throughout the building when once started. 

25. Don’t use celluloid in the home. It is 
made of cotton, soaked in nitroglycerine 
and camphor. This is one of the most fre¬ 
quent causes of fatal fires. 

26. Don’t have short gas brackets or place 
them close to woodwork or near curtains. 
Every gas jet should be protected by a glass 
globe or wire cage. Swinging or folding 
brackets are never safe. 


239 




27. Don’t use gasoline, naphtha or benzine 
in the home, unless absolutely necessary. 
They should never be used at night. 

28. Don’t pour gasoline or naphtha down 
the drain. Pour it on the ground if you 
must get rid of it. One pint of gasoline, 
naphtha or benzine makes 200 feet of ex¬ 
plosive vapor. 

29. Don’t set kitchen stoves close to 
woodwork. Put a metal shield behind the 
stove. Leave a little air space behind the 
shield. Bright tin is the best protector if 
not placed right up against woodwork. 

30. Don’t use small gas stoves or lamps 
on wooden tables. Place metal protector 
under them. Be careful in using gas 
stoves, especially in lighting the oven, and if 
the meat or grease take fire, shut off the gas 
and throw salt, not water, on the flames. 

31. Don’t look for a gas leak with a 
lighted candle or match. You might sud¬ 
denly find it—to your sorrow. 


1 

Warning! 

When in a place of public assembly, such 
as a moving picture show, theater, dance 
hall, lecture hall, boxing club, etc., look 
around and note the nearest exit to you. In 
case of fire or panic walk, not run, to that 
exit and do not try to beat your neighbor 
to the street. 

Sending in an Alarm. 

Locate the nearest fire alarm box to your 
home. If it opens with a key, find out who 
keeps the key. 

The ordinary box has no key; you simply 
turn the handle to the right, open the door 
and pull hook down all the way and let go. 
Wait until the Firemen arrive and direct 
them to the fire. 

If you don’t know where the nearest 
alarm box is located, use the ’phone and 
ask Central for Fire Headquarters, and tell 
the Fire Department operator exact ad¬ 
dress of building where the fire is. 


240 


FIRE MARSHAL. AND ASST. FIRE MARSHAL. 


Answers to Examination Questions, New York City; 
Specimen Questions, Taking Testimony and 

Report Writing. 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL. 

Date: May 25, 1915. 

ANSWERS BY 
WM. B. NORTHROP. 

No. 1 on the List, with 85 per cent. 
DUTIES—Weight 7. 

Ques. 1:—Describe the methods used by 
incendiaries in starting fires so that the fire 
will not actually break out until they have 
time to be several miles away from the 
scene of its occurrence. Do not describe any 
method requiring the use of candles. 

' ANS.:—(1) Crossing electric wires and at¬ 
taching a clock timed and arranged in such a 
•way that the current would be broken at any 
given time, allowing sufficient time for prov¬ 
ing an alibi. 

(2) Dissolving phosphorus in carbon bi¬ 
sulphide and sprinkling the solution on the 
place where the fire is to be made. The 
carbon bisulphide evaporates in time, leav¬ 
ing pure phosphorus, which bursts out spon¬ 
taneously in atmospheric air. setting fire to 
the place and making a fire of apparently ac¬ 
cidental character, with ample time to prove 
an alibi. Other spontaneously igniting sub¬ 
stances could also be used if properly timed. 

(3) Saturating clothing or other articles 
with inflammable oil and placing them in 
such a position that they will burn readily— 
allowing access of oxygen—and then attach- 
ing a lighted time fuse so that it will burn 
sufficiently slowly to permit the incendiary 
to travel to a distance. 

(4) Setting bladders filled with ether, tur- 
.pentine, and other inflammable matter in po¬ 
sition over a gas jet so arranged that the 
flame will gradually set fire to some clothing 
attached by long “trailers” of cloth, which 
eventually burn and reach the bladders with 
resultant fire, destroying all evidence, but 
not taking place too quickly to prevent party 
making fire from reaching a distance. 

(5) Leaving fat slowly burning on stove 
in such a position that it will in time boil 
over and set fire to surroundings, a weight 
being attached to a clock mechanism so that 
it would fall and pull down boiling fat con¬ 
tained and assure fire taking place. 

Ques. 2:—You have been assigned to in¬ 
vestigate a fire that is reported to be of sus¬ 
picious origin by the Chief of Battalion in 
charge at the scene of the fire. Upon ar¬ 


riving at the premises you find that it has 
occurred in a loft occupied by a cloak manu¬ 
facturer. State clearly and fully what you 
would do in the order in which you would 
do it so as to make a complete investigation. 
Describe the procedure to be followed in 
caes you found sufficient evidence to war¬ 
rant a charge of arson. 

ANS.:—I would first obtain from the chief 
officer who reported fire to be suspicious his 
reasons for this assumption. The next step 
would be a careful examination of the prem¬ 
ises to ascertain if his conclusions were jus¬ 
tified. In the absence of all direct evidence 
of incendiarism—such as candles, kerosene 
or other damaging articles—I would con¬ 
sider all methods whereby a fire in the cloak 
trade and in that particular loft building 
might naturally be made, such as untidy fac¬ 
tory conditions, oil waste strewn about, 
power belts causing friction, electric motors 
unprotected against sparkling, smoking and 
carelessness of all kinds. It would be nec¬ 
essary to proceed by a process of elimina¬ 
tion, considering all hazards in that partic¬ 
ular branch of industry. I would next con¬ 
sider the moral hazard, whether the owner 
of the place had any motive for making a 
fire. In order to do this it would be neces¬ 
sary to conduct an investigation. I would 
summon to the fire marshal’s office under 
subpoena and examine under oath all mate¬ 
rial witnesses who might throw any light 
upon the matter. I would also examine the 
owner of the cloak factory, and if there ap¬ 
peared any suspicious circumstances after 
examining into his financial and general 
circumstances which justified his arrest, I 
would have him arrested. 

I would lay special stress on the matter 
overinsurance, low financial condition as 
shown by an examination of his books, bank 
accounts, indebtedness, moral character, and 
as to whether he had had previous fires or 
collected fire insurance therefrom. I would 
attempt to corroborate accusing witnesses, 
especially if alleged conspirators in his guilt 
after conducting a full examination and 
arriving at conclusions sufficient to justify 
suspicions of arson, I would present all my 
evidence to the District Attorney, and assist 
him in every legitimate way in my power to 
bring about a conviction. In the physical 
examination of the premises I would en¬ 
deavor to obtain samples and evidences of 
combustion that would show the suspicious 
nature of the fire. In making this special 
examination, the origin of the outbreak of 
fire would have to be scrutinized carefully, 
all evidence of the fire having been made 


241 




purposely—such as presense of oil or other 
extraneous matter that might cause fire— 
would have to be examined. If any mate¬ 
rial objects that might show interest to de¬ 
stroy the place were found, they would be 
taken away, placed under seal and used at 
the trial. In settling on the question of 
guilt, it would be material to show that the 
accused had exclusive access to the prem¬ 
ises, consequently the structural condition 
of the building would have to be carefully 
examined and all shafts, windows or other 
openings considered. There would, of 
course, be the question as to whether the 
accused wilfully set fire to the premises 
himself or caused or hired others to do so. 
These conditions would develop at the ex¬ 
aminations under oath, if properly con¬ 
ducted. 

Ques. 3:—It has been stated that the fire 
loss due to arson would be greatly lessened 
if the insurance companies made an inspec¬ 
tion and survey of the premises previous to 
the issuance of a policy. Discuss the 
feasibility of the suggested procedure, giv¬ 
ing your opinion as to its practicability and 
value. 

ANS.:—Previous inspection of property 
by fire insurance company before issuing 
policies is already in use in Germany, 
France and England, and there is no reason 
why it should not be adopted in the United 
States, especially in. view of the fact that 
our fire losses in this country are between 
five and seven times greater than in the 
countries .mentioned. Fire Commissioner 
Johnson, in his report on Incendiarism in 
New York City, advocated previous inspec¬ 
tion before policies, and it is significant that 
fires in the city were reduced considerably 
(from 15,000 for 1912, to 12,000 for 1913) 
after he started his agitation against the in¬ 
surance companies to make them inspect 
property before insurance. If the fire in¬ 
surance companies were more guarded in 
issuing policies and refused to issue them to 
persons who had had previous fires of sus¬ 
picious character, and whose application 
showed that moral hazard existed, it is es¬ 
timated that one-fourth of our fires would 
be eliminated. 

A bill was introduced into the Legislature 
during Commissioner Johnson’s administra¬ 
tion, requiring character test and previous 
inspection, though it did not pass. The 
State of Pennsylvania has also had a similar 
bill before its Legislature. If there were 
previous, inspections, not only would “fire¬ 
bugs” fail to obtain insurance, but all per¬ 
sons who might be tempted by financial or 
other circumstances to “sell their business,” 
i. e., tempted by overinsurance to realize on 
their.policies. . Many persons under present 
conditions—with no inspection previous to 
obtaining policies—are inclined to over¬ 
insure and, though they may not be so de¬ 
praved as to actually set fire to their place, 
still they allow careless conditions to pre¬ 
vail,, and leave fire hazards unremedied, with 
the idea that if a fire did occur, it would not 
be an unmixed evil, in fact, it might be a 


means of salvation. As most incendiary 
fires are done to obtain insurance, previous 
inspection would remove the possibility of 
“fire-bugs” obtaining policies. Of course, 
fire insurance companies oppose the idea of 
previous inspection, owing to the expense 
entailed, and they say it would render fire 
insurance prohibitive in price. Fire insur¬ 
ance is not prohibitive in countries abroad 
where previous inspection prevails; besides, 
a central inspection bureau, another method 
of inspection, could easily be devised, 
whereby such expense would be reduced to 
the minimum. As an offset, which would 
more than counterbalance the cost of in¬ 
spection and represent an actual cash saving 
to the community directly and indirectly to 
the insurance companies, there would be 
the great reduction in the number of fires 
(25 per cent.—See report on Incendiarism, 
N. Y. City), and a saving to the city of 
about $3,000,000 a man a year. In fact, 
despite the cost of inspection, fire insur¬ 
ance should be cheaper, owing to improved 
nature of risks. 

There is another argument advanced by 
fire insurance companies against previous 
inspection of risks, and that is that the pres¬ 
ence of goods inspected might be taken as 
a warranty as evidence of their existence in 
a subsequent fire; also, that the goods might 
be moved in the day previous to inspection, 
and then removed just before fire. While 
there is some weight in these two points, 
they are overbalanced by the argument in 
favor of previous inspection. Removal of 
goods just before a fire would be a sus¬ 
picious circumstance in itself, and this re¬ 
moval would tell against the person at¬ 
tempting to collect under the policy. To 
arrange an elaborate furniture or mer¬ 
chandise “plant” just for the benefit of the 
fire insurance inspector would be a clumsy 
and tedious, not to say risky, expedient, and 
most persons would not resort to it. Of 
the few who might try it, there would be 
quite simple methods of defeating their 
puroose. 

The plan of previous inspection is quite 
practicable. In fact, it is done by one or 
two high-class companies in this country. 
The Philadelphia National, for instance, 
with one national fire waste, in the neigh¬ 
borhood of $500,000,000 yearly. In this 
country, fire insurance companies will 
eventually have to adopt radical methods 
for reducing, not only incendiary fires, but 
careless ones. 

Ques. 4:—Explain what is meant by each 
of the following as it relates to the duties of 
an Assistant Fire Marshal: (a) Moral 
hazard; (b) phvsical hazard; (c) presump¬ 
tive evidence; (d) indictment; (e) insurable 
interest; (f) subpoena duces tecum. 

ANS.;—(a) Moral hazard is a tempta¬ 
tion—usually in the form of overinsurance 
on a fire insurance policy—accompanied 
with financial stress which makes a person 
desirous of setting fire to his property—at 
least impels him toward neglecting his 
property purposely, so that it will be de- 


stroyed and the value of the policy realized. 
It is called “moral hazard,” because it has 
a tendency to break down the morality of 
the person so situated. 

(b) Physical hazard: Any physical con¬ 
dition, such as a curtain near a window over 
a burning gas jet which is likely to cause 
fire. Physical hazards may be of many 
kinds—structural, such as defective flue, 
chemical presence of unprotected nitric acid 
near organic matter; personal, such as 
smoking in a factory with rubbish on floor; 
material, such as inflammable goods left 
carelessly about, such as celluloid exposure, 
danger from adjoining premises, rubbish 
piled in cellar. 

(c) Presumptive evidence: That class of 
evidence by means of which an inference is 
drawn based on previous experience of 
other similar related facts leading to a rea¬ 
sonable, deduction when applied to the par¬ 
ticular case in hand. 

(d) Indictment is a “true bill” founded by 
a legally constituted tribunal pointing to 
the guilt of some particular offender named 
in the document, which finding is used as a 
basis of trial for an alleged crime. The 
Grand Jury is usually the legal body for 
bringing in indictments, which are only is¬ 
sued upon preliminary presentation of suffi¬ 
cient evidence to justify the accusation. 

(f) Subpoena. For a witness or other per¬ 
son to appear in person and produce all 
evidence of a documentary or other char¬ 
acter, which subpoena is issued by an au¬ 
thority duly constituted and empowered to 
issue same. It designates same time and 
place for appearance. 

Ques. 5:—A fire has occurred in a retail 
dry goods store owned by a woman. An 
Assistant Fire Marshal detailed to investi¬ 
gate the case learned that the insurance on 
the store was doubled about a month be¬ 
fore the fire. The owner admitted this, but 
stated that this was due to the fact that it 
was necessary in order to obtain additional 
credit from the wholesale dealers. She fur¬ 
ther stated, however, that she did not bene¬ 
fit by the insurance, as it was taken out by 
a relation to whom she was indebted. 

Assuming that the fire was of suspicious 
origin, give a detailed account of the fur¬ 
ther methods of investigation which should 
be followed, stating your reasons fully. 

ANS.:—The statement of the woman as 
to refusal of wholesaler to give credit 
without further insurance on her part 
should be corroborated by examination of 
the particular wholesalers who are alleged 
to have made such a statement. Her mo¬ 
tive for adding to her insurance should be 
carefully scrutinized. Furthermore, all 
books connected with her business should 
be carefully examined, such as bank books, 
ledger, journal, day book. It would be 
necessary to ascertain all her outstanding 
indebtedness, such as bills unpaid and her 
entire financial standing. She should be 
carefully examined under oath and so 
should her relative to ascertain who would 
benefit from the fire. A further examination 


would have to be made to ascertain, if 
possible, how much stock the woman had 
before the fire and whether this stock were 
increased or not when the additional insur¬ 
ance was taken out. Her exact relations 
from a moral standpoint as well as from a 
financial to the relative she accuses would 
have to be gone into to ascertain whether 
they had benefited from the fire. 

This relation may have been unduly 
persecuting the woman to pay her debts or 
threatening her in some way unless she 
paid up. The motive of the fire would be 
essential whether the woman benefited di¬ 
rectly or indirectly. After clearly establish¬ 
ing the motive, it would be more or less 
easy to fix the blame on the one who was 
most interested in having the fire. Possi¬ 
bly the relative for whom she acted might 
have exercised some peculiar—hypnotic or 
other—influence. All such things would 
have to be considered. It would be neces¬ 
sary to go into the woman’s mental state. 
If a weak-minded, easily led or abnormal 
type of character, she would have to be re¬ 
garded from another standpoint. All these 
facts would be brought out in a proper in¬ 
vestigation. Her family history and rela¬ 
tives would have to be carefully investi¬ 
gated, as well as her physical and mental 
condition. 

Ques. 6:—What action should be taken, if 
any, if a material witness in a case of arson 
in the first degree were located in Jersey 
City? If he were located at Albany? Give 
full reasons for your answer. 

ANS.:—Witness should be appealed to in 
the interest of justice to return to the New 
York City jurisdiction. All methods of 
persuasion should be used to bring him back 
into New York State. He could not be 
served with New York City Fire Marshal’s 
subpoena, as it would not be valid outside 
city or in New Jersey. If located in Albany, 
the same arguments should be used to per¬ 
suade witness to return to jurisdiction, but 
a subpoena might be issued by applying to 
the Corporation Counsel, who would apply 
to a justice of the Supreme Court to issue 
a subpoena in Albany, which would effect 
return of witness to New York City. The 
reason for applying to Corporation Counsel 
and the Supreme Court is because New 
York City Fire Marshal cannot issue sub¬ 
poenas outside of city. 

Ques. 7:—Explain fully the duties and 
powers of a Fire Marshal in each of the fol¬ 
lowing cases: (a) An incendiary fire breaks 
out in a warehouse owned by the United 
States Government and spreads to an ad¬ 
joining tenement. The fire occurs at night 
and lives are lost in both buildings, (b) A 
fire occurs aboard a foreign vessel while it 
was docked at one of the piers on the North 
River. One of the crew is suspected of hav¬ 
ing started the fire. 

ANS.:—Because the fire occurs in Federal 
property it does not prevent Fire Marshal 
from attending to his duty. A felony has 
been committed, and the same methods 


243 


should be employed in detecting the crime 
as in any other part of the city. 

In the case of the Federal warehouse, the 
Federal authorities, as well as the New 
York Police, should be asked to co-operate 
with the Fire Marshal. 

The person who set fire to the building 
would be guilty of manslaughter as well as 
arson. The Coroner, in the case of the 
deaths in the tenement house, would also 
make an investigation. 

Technically, the person who set fire to the 
warehouse would be as guilty as if he set 
fire to the tenement, as it would be within 
the “curtilage” of or adjoining the prop¬ 
erty set on fire; mere act of wilfully burn¬ 
ing would be arson in the second degree, 
but there would be the added charge of 
manslaughter. The Fire Marshal would 
have full power to make all necessary in¬ 
vestigations to subpoena witnesses and to 
prepare the case for the prosecuting au¬ 
thorities. 

(b) The Fire Marshal would have full 
power to investigate the fire on the foreign 
vessel, as his authority extends to “any ves¬ 
sel.” He could summon witnesses, examine 
them under oath, and, on ascertaining the 
identity of the guilty party, cause an arrest 
to be made. The conduct of the investiga¬ 
tion and trial would be no diflferent because 
it was a foreign vessel. 

Ques. 8:—After a fire in a factory building 
an investigation disclosed the following: 
The owner had been served by the Bureau 
of Fire Prevention with a notice of violation 
concerning the illegal storage of moving 
picture films. He had obeyed the order at 
the time, but afterwards had again stored 
the films. The fire had extended to an 
upper floor, where the body of a watchman 
was found near an exit to a fire escape, 
which was obstructed by packing cases. If 
you were sent to investigate under the 
above conditions, state fully what action 
you would take personally, and what further 
action should be taken by the official 
concerned. 

ANS.:—The storing of films a second 
time involved a violation of the Fire De¬ 
partment order: and as a life was lost owing 
to. this cause the owner would be guilty of 
criminal negligence and responsible for the 
death resulting therefrom. The Coroner’s 
jury would doubtless lay a charge of 
criminal negligence against the offender. 
On determining the facts as outlined, the 
owner of the building should be put under 
arrest by the Fire Marshal, acting on the 
order of the Fire Commissioner, before the 
Coroner appeared upon the scene. 

Oues. 9:—You are informed, as Fire Mar¬ 
shal, by an anonymous letter, that the owner 
of a printing establishment is about to set 
fire to his place of business. What con¬ 
sideration should be given to such a com¬ 
munication? How would you proceed to in¬ 
vestigate the statements contained in the 
letter, and what further precautions should 
be taken in order that the crime may not 


be committed, if you believed that the state¬ 
ments made are possibly well founded? 

ANS.:—On receipt of such an anonymous 
letter, I would, if Fire Marshal, order the 
printing place put under surveillance in such 
a way as not in the least to arouse the sus¬ 
picion of the party contemplating the crime. 
I would then proceed to conduct a discreet 
investigation into the financial standing of 
the concern in order to ascertain if there 
were any foundation for the statement in 
the anonymous communication. I would be 
guided by the result of the report of the As¬ 
sistant Fire Marshal or watcher whom I had 
detailed to watch the place. 

If the anonymous letter proved to be a 
sound “tip,” I would lay such plans, as I 
thought needful to forestall the commission 
of the crime. For instance, part of my plans 
for watching the place would be to have one 
of my men employed in it, either . as 
printer, pressman, doorkeeper or otherwise, 
to devise some plan to keep the place under 
strict observation night and day. By keep¬ 
ing constantly in touch with everything tak¬ 
ing place in the establishment, I would 
probably be able to catch the incendiary in 
the act. 

In following this course, all needful pre¬ 
cautions would have to be taken to prevent 
any fire from getting a start. Fire ex¬ 
tinguishers might be hidden away in the 
premises and other precautions taken. In 
this watching, I would enlist the co-opera¬ 
tion of the Police Force, and consult and 
advise with the Fire Commissioner from 
time to time, if it was deemed advisable. 

Of course, if the circumstances were such 
that I considered there was not entire justi¬ 
fication for the statement of the anonymous 
writer, no such action as outlined would be 
followed. Possibly it might be well to have 
the place inspected by the Bureau of Fire 
Prevention, and perhaps a few visits or a 
warning to clean up the place or remove 
rubbish or oily paper and waste might 
suffice to prevent anyone from com¬ 
mitting a crime, as they would know that 
the Bureau of Fire Prevention had it under 
suspicion, or at least inspection. 

Ques. 10:—State fully what action you 
would take as Assistant Fire Marshal in 
each of the following cases, giving your 
reasons, when necessary: 

(a) A business man, under subpoena from 
the Fire Marshal in the investigation of a 
fire of suspicious origin in his place of busi¬ 
ness, appears at your office accompanied by 
an attorney. He refuses to answer any 
questions put to him regarding the transac¬ 
tion of his business, his financial condition, 
or the whereabouts of his partner, stating 
that his refusal to answer is due to advice 
of counsel. 

(b) You are sent to interview an employee 
of a business house in connection with a 
suspicious fire. The head of the office re¬ 
fuses to allow you to see him. 

(c) A material witness in an arson case is 
about to leave the city. You are certain 


244 


that he is in the house, but you are refused 
admittance. 

ANS.;—(a) I would try to reason him 
out of his obdurate position, and would ex¬ 
plain my duty as Fire Marshal to ascertain 
the truth. If the man were not amenable 
to reason, but his counsel persisted in ad¬ 
vising him not to answer questions, I would 
politely order the lawyer to leave the office 
of the Fire Marshal. If the party still re¬ 
fused to answer questions, I would apply 
to the Corporation Counsel for a Supreme 
Court subpoena, and upon due service of 
same and the party still remaining obdurate, 
I would apply to the justice to have him 
committed for contempt. He would re¬ 
main under arrest at the discretion of the 
court until he had had an opportunity to 
think things over and reconsider his actions. 

(b) Keep his office under observation, and 
serve a subpoena on him as soon as he ap¬ 
pears; surround the place, and serve the 
witness with the supoena as soon as the op¬ 
portunity presents itself. If by any subter¬ 
fuge, not amounting to violence or house¬ 
breaking, an entrance to the residence can 
be effected, such entry should be made and 
the subpoena served and the witness per¬ 
suaded to do his duty and appear in the 
case. If there is just reason to suspect his 
intention to leave the city, he could be taken 
into custody until his evidence were ob¬ 
tained. 


REPORT. 

Ques. 11 and 12:—Write a report of not 
less than 200 words, addressed to the Fire 
Commissioner, giving your ideas as to the 
best methods for decreasing the fire loss 
due to arson in New York City, together 
with reasons for the opinions expressed and 
the recommendations made. 

NOTE:—Mr. Northrop failed to date his 
report. The date would best be the date of 
the examination, May 25, 1915. It would 
also be proper to conclude with “respect¬ 
fully submitted.” 

ANSWER:— 

Hon. Robert Adamson, 

Fire Commissioner, 

City of New York. 

Sir: 

Incendiarism is caused mainly from a de¬ 
sire to gain by setting fire to property in¬ 
sured for a money consideration. The case 
with which fire insurance is now obtained in 
this country produces a virtual moral 
hazard affecting our entire population, es¬ 
pecially those in reduced circumstances and 
financial trouble. Fire insurance as granted 
to-day is an incentive to crime. 

Now, with all crime, it is recognized by 
penalogists that it is far better to remove 
the incentive than administer punishment 
after commission of the offense. The in¬ 
centive to arson is the fire insurance policy. 
Place this policy outside the reach of 
morally defective people and make it diffi¬ 
cult for them to obtain it. Of course, fire 
insurance is essential as a basis of credit, 


but as none but those who know how to use 
poisons are permitted to obtain them, so 
moral-hazard poison should not be given 
away freely. You would stop arson (except 
crimes of revenge, pyromanic, etc.) by 
getting a bill passed through the Legisla¬ 
ture compelling fire insurance companies to 
do the following: 

(a) Inquire into character of applicants 
for insurance. 

(b) Ascertain their record as to previous 
fires. 

(c) Make them insure only the value of 
their goods. 

(d) Compel them to state how much other 
fire insurance they have before getting over¬ 
insurance. 

(e) On the part of the companies, they 
should not grant fire insurance policies on 
property they have not previously inspected. 
In addition, the agent filling out the applica¬ 
tion should give some sort of warranty 
that he knows the party making the applica¬ 
tion. 

If these steps were taken it would do 
much toward reducing the number of cases 
of arson among a class of our more ignorant 
population. With larger merchants who 
might be tempted to have fires when in 
financial shallow water, I would propose 
that the suggestion advocated not long ago 
by The Merchants’ Association of New 
York be adopted. This way is the amend¬ 
ment of the standard fire insurance policy 
in such a way as to incorporate what is 
known in some states as “The Iron Safe 
Clause.” This clause requires that books 
of a concern be kept in an iron fireproof 
safe or vault so that they can be produced 
after a fire and form a basis of settlement 
for adjusting losses. Now, when fires oc¬ 
cur, the books are often either burned up or 
spirited away and losses are heavily over¬ 
paid. “The Iron Safe Clause” also requires 
that an inventory showing complete stock 
be taken once a year. This also to be kept 
in the safe. This prevents overinsurance. 
The “Iron Safe Clause” is now part of the 
fire insurance policy of several states and 
could be adopted here without much trou¬ 
ble. Fire insurance reform would be the 
first essential to eliminate arson. 

Another way to reduce arson is to limit 
the powers of adjusters. They are now 
licensed by the State Insurance Department, 
but they have a habit of overpaying losses 
in order to obtain larger commission. Many 
fire insurance companies also overpay 
losses because they have not the moral 
courage to fight dishonest claims, and often 
consider it better business to pay a claim 
they know is not “square” rather than incur 
the expense of making a fight or being 
called litigious. 

Having removed present insurance and 
adjusting evils, the next consideration 
should be the prosecution of incendiaries. 
Arson is so difficult to prove (even harder 
than, murder, owing to destruction of all 
evidence of crime) that there should be re¬ 
forms in the Penal Code penalties for pro¬ 
ducing a false “proof of loss,” should be 


245 



increased and perjury in arson cases should 
be more rigorously punished. 

The rules of evidence in arson cases 
should be revised by a competent body of 
jurists who would see to it that honest 
citizens were given every legal protection 
without making the law—as it is to-day—a 
cloak for crime. So many safeguards are 
thrown around the citizens in jeopardy at a 
trial that fire-bugs are, under existing cir¬ 
cumstances, almost immune from punish¬ 
ment. 

Every arson case should be vigorously 
prosecuted and persons who have careless 
fires and obtain payment for accidents 
should be made as answerable to the au¬ 
thorities as if guilty of crime. In Paris 
there is the law of “Neighbors’ Risk,” 
whereby the person who has a fire is made 
responsible for all damage. Our respecta¬ 
ble fire-bugs who have accidental fires 
should be amenable to some such regula¬ 
tion. 

To sum up: Arson can be wiped out; 
that is, arson for insurance methods to the 
extent of making the obtaining of fire in¬ 
surance more difficult and by previous in¬ 
spections of property by curtailing the 
operations of public adjusters, and lastly by 
a reform of our laws in such a way as to 
make the conviction of incendiaries more 
certain and the having of careless fires more 
open to punishment. The granting of 
policies by fire insurance companies under 
present circumstances should be made a 
misdemeanor, punishable with an adequate 
fine. 

By entirely removing the incentive to 
arson, the crime would in time disappear, 
except, of course, in cases other than those 
involving motives of gain. 

Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 
ASST. FIRE MARSHAL. 

Fire Department. 

Date: November 15, 1911. 

DUTIES—Weight 6. 

(To be finished by 1 P. M.) 

Ques. 1:—Mention five of the most fre¬ 
quent causes of fire in each of the fol¬ 
lowing classes of buildings, but do not 
repeat the same causes in any two: (a) 
churches; (b) bakeries; (c) clubs and lodge 
rooms; (d) office buildings. 

ANS.:—(a) 1. By lighting; 2. By care¬ 
lessness in the use of candles, tapers, etc. 
3. By overheated stoves or furnaces. 4. By 
defective insulation of electric wires. 5. 
By incendiarism. 

(b) 1. By boiling of fats, lard, etc. 2. By 
ignition of combustible materials near oven. 
3. By soot in chimney. 4. By sparks from 
oven setting fire to surrounding combusti¬ 
ble material. 5. By defective construction 
of chimneys. 

(c) 1. By throwing away lighted cigars 
and cigarettes. 2. By stepping on matches. 
3. By carelessness in the use of kerosene oil 


stoves. 4. By gas explosion due to one 
lighted jet and one open jet. 5. By matches 
gnawed by rats and mice. 

(d) 1. By heat from steam pipes igniting 
combustible material. 2. By spontaneous 
combustion of oily waste and other oily or 
greasy material in the engine room. 3. By 
heat caused by friction of machinery set¬ 
ting fire to combustible material. 4. By 
placing of hot coals in combustible recep¬ 
tacles. 5. By coal dust explosions in con¬ 
junction with naked light. 

NOTE: This question is difficult because 
it specifices that the same causes must not 
be repeated and because it calls for the 
most frequent causes. It can almost be said 
that there are no most frequent five causes 
of fires in churches and clubs. Club fires 
are usually due to lighted cigars, cigarettes 
and careless use of matches, and it is diffi¬ 
cult to avoid apparent repetition. Stepping 
on matches and mice gnawing matches are 
not really repetitions, however, for they are 
two different causes by one object. To this 
could also be appropriately added throwing 
away lighted matches, which also would ap¬ 
parently, but not really, be a repetition. 

Ques. 2:—(a) Where the present or past 
financial condition of a man is an important 
factor, state fully and clearly all matters on 
books or other records that would throw 
light on the question, (b) In an ordinary 
commercial business, what books or records 
would you examine and what would you 
expect to find in each? (c) What matters 
bearing on this question, not on books, 
would you look into? Show fully all you 
would do to establish a man’s financial 
status. 

ANS.:—(a) The books and records nec¬ 
essary to establish his financial status would 
be: Bank book, insurance policies, ledger, 
order book, shipping book, letter files, com¬ 
mercial agency books, records of credit as¬ 
sociations. Bank book would show how 
much he has on hand, and the condition of 
the business in a superficial way. Insurance 
policies would show amount of insurance 
carried. Ledger would show the general 
condition of his business. Order book 
would show the condition of orders. Ship- 
mg book would show condition of ship¬ 
ping. Letter files might show whether he 
has other business interests and might re¬ 
veal important evidence of the kind de¬ 
sired. Commercial agency books, such as 
Dun’s and Bradstreet’s would show his 
commercial rating and how his credit was 
viewed. Credit associations frequently have 
information of importance regarding mer¬ 
chants, showing that they are buying too 
heavily, etc. To determine whether he 
owned real estate, and if so, the condition 
of the same, it would be necessary to search 
public records for transactions that require 
to be recorded. 

(b) The insurance policies, to see how 
much insurance he carried, and whether it 
was a justifiable amount. The bank book 
to see whether the business was prospering 
or otherwise, and whether his finances were 


246 



easy or tight. The ledger, to see how much 
was incoming and how much owing; net 
worth; present condition of business, and 
his personal account, to see whether he was 
living high. The order book would show 
how many orders he was receiving. If busi¬ 
ness were good incendiarism would be im¬ 
probable. The shipping book would show 
how much he was shipping. The shipping 
book and order book would, however, bet¬ 
ter be verified by checking with the letter 
files, to see whether he actually received 
the orders entered and actually shipped the 
goods. If he kept a stock book, it should 
also be studied and verified. Dun’s or 
Bradstreet’s rating might give a valuable 
clue, and this could be followed up by get¬ 
ting special reports from these agencies, 
which frequently give failures, fires, etc., for 
years back. The amount of stock on hand 
and its relation to the amount he was in¬ 
sured for would be important. 

(c) Aside from his books and such rec¬ 
ords as could be found in his office, he may 
have other business interests; also his per¬ 
sonal and family life should be investigated. 
If he has other business interests, it may be 
that he is losing money in them, or he may 
be speculating in stocks. He may be gam¬ 
bling. He may be paying too much rent. 
He may own a house and the mortgage is 
about to be foreclosed. His family may 
live too extravagantly. All of these things 
would have to be investigated to ascertain 
what bearing they might have on a motive 
for a fire. 

In addition to the foregoing investiga¬ 
tions as to his worth, his financial status 
would be fully established by ascertaining 
how he pays his bills and his general in¬ 
tegrity in transactions. 

NOTE:—This is a practical question, but 
is put in such a way that nearly the same 
thing is asked three times, and most of the 
candidates must have been puzzled over 
how to avoid repetition, and lost a great 
deal of time. The Chronicle staff went over 
this question many times in an effort to sci¬ 
entifically avoid repetitions, but although 
they may not be strongly noticeable they 
are there. This opinion of the Chronicle 
staff is verified by the opinion of the fire 
expert to whom these answers are submit¬ 
ted for approval. 

To state “fully and clearly all matters on 
books or other records” involves the re¬ 
quirements of (b) and also (c), and then 
the last sentence again covers the ground 
of the first, and a little bit more. 


Ques. 3:—A dry goods store is burned in 
he night time. It had a large show win- 
low in or near which the fire started. A 
veek earlier this window had been special- 
y decorated for Christmas with festoons of 
:olored paper, a wintry effect being pro- 
luced by layers of cotton batting resem- 
>ling snow. A large electric light bulb 
epresenang the moon was decorated by 
:olored paper, while smaller electric bulbs 
epresenting the stars were fed by several 
emporarily installed electric wires. Varied 


colored signs in celluloid decorated each 
article. The window had been kept tightly 
closed since is decoration, but a single gas 
jet burned at the time of the fire fully 20 
inches below the muslin draperies. Men¬ 
tion all the possible and probable causes of 
a fire occurring under the conditions above 
named. Explain the conditions present and 
favorable to the rapid development of the 
fire. Tell the precautions that should have 
been taken to guard against such a fire with¬ 
out dispensing with the use of any of the 
articles used to produce the decorative 
effect. 

ANS.:—The possible and probable causes 
of a fire under the conditions named are: 
(1) Due to defective insulation of tempo¬ 
rarily installed wires; (2) by the ignition of 
the flame of the gas jet with the festoons 
of colored paper, celluloid, layers of cotton 
batting, etc., caused by the ignition of the 
muslin draperies. 

The following conditions present were 
favorable to the development of the fire: 

(1) The festoons of colored paper, which 
are very inflammable and spread quickly; 

(2) ignition of the cotton batting would 
cause sparks to fly, setting fire to surround¬ 
ing material; (3) the celluloid, which is ex¬ 
ceedingly inflammable and burns with great 
rapidity, covering the various articles in 
the window, would set fire to the articles 
to which they were attached; (4) the fact 
that the window had been kept tightly 
closed would cause great heat to generate 
and probably result in an explosion. 

The following precautions could have 
been taken to prevent the fire: (1) All in¬ 
flammable materials should have been made 
fireproof by some fireproofing process; (2) 
no lights should have been left burning 
near the muslin draperies; (3) proper pre¬ 
caution should have been taken to see that 
the electric wires in the show window were 
properly insulated; (4) the electric light 
bulbs should* have been encased in wire 
cages to prevent inflammable material from 
being placed too close to the lights. 

Ques. 4:—State all the reasons or con¬ 
ditions that would lead you to believe that 
a fire was the result of (a) incendiary ori¬ 
gin; (b) spontaneous combustion. 

ANS.:—(a) If there were discovered evi¬ 
dences of suspicious origin or a motive for 
incendiarism, or both. 

Evidences of suspicious origin would be 
receptacles which had contained inflamma¬ 
ble liquids, etc.; open gas jets; a more rapid 
spread of flames than was reasonable, con¬ 
sidering the contents of the place; order of 
naphtha, ether, or other volatiles not sup¬ 
posed to be kept on the premises; rear¬ 
rangement of stock or furniture in such a 
way as to cause the greatest damage in the 
least time; any unusual behavior or actions 
on the part of proprietor or employees; 
financial condition of the business,, etc. Ab¬ 
sence of evidence of criminal motive on the 
part of those' interested would force the 
conclusion that the fire was due to revenge 
or caused by a pyromaniac, if there were 
signs to indicate incendiarism. 


247 


For a fire due to revenge, search would 
have to be made for evidence of enmity, 
such as labor troubles, bitter rivalry of com¬ 
petitors, discharged employees, etc.; also 
the possibility of having been done to de¬ 
stroy evidence of a robbery, or defalcation 
by the bookkeeper, or murder, or other 
crime, 

If done by a pyromaniac, the usual indi¬ 
cations would be burnt rags in hallway or 
cellar, or other crude method such as might 
be adopted by one who cared only to ac¬ 
complish his object and was unconcerned as 
to whether or not he left evidence behind. 
If done for gain or revenge, every effort 
would be made to cover up the evidences. 
Similar fires in the neighborhood would 
also indicate the probability of a pyro¬ 
maniac. 

(b) Reasons for believing the fire to have 
been due to spontaneous combustion would 
be: 

The presence of oily waste, rags, cloth¬ 
ing, etc., in a room where combustible ma¬ 
terial was kept; floors saturated with inflam¬ 
mable oil; the presence in a room of vege¬ 
table and animal oils, hemp, palm, cocoanut, 
cod liver, bone, hog and wool fats kept in 
a confined place; combustibles rolled up in 
bundles, piled in stacks. Charcoal, freshly 
powdered and moist, would cause spontane¬ 
ous combustion when tightly packed or 
stored in piles and in a heated place; litho¬ 
graphed posters, show bills, etc., when 
stacked in piles, could cause spontaneous 
combustion; as also could hay, when green; 
cotton cloth, if not washed after dyeing; 
flax, jute, floor sweepings from oiled floors, 
metal shavings, Spanish black, dye-woods, 
etc. 

Ques. 5:—Give all the essential facts re¬ 
garding the work and methods of pyromani- 
acs. What indication would lead you to 
believe that a fire was the work of such an 
individual? 

State the methods of detection that you 
would use to learn the identity of a pyro¬ 
maniac. 

What personal characteristics, if any, 
would lead you to suspect that a man was 
a pyromaniac? 

What, in your opinion, is best to be done 
with such persons, and why? 

ANS.:—Pyromaniacs are persons afflicted 
with a form of insanity which fills the vic¬ 
tim with a strong desire to see the excite¬ 
ment of fire. They usually start fires in a 
very crude way, such as setting fire to rub¬ 
bish, paper, rags, etc., in hallways and cel¬ 
lars. They usually use kerosene. They 
usually start fires after regular intervals and 
in a certain locality, and several blocks 
apart. They can often be distinguished by 
their unusual readiness to help the Firemen 
and by their boasting of attempted rescues. 
They usually turn in the alarm and are the 
first ones to appear at the fire. They have 
the cunning of an insane man, although 
their methods of starting fires are not usu¬ 
ally ingenious. If a fire is caused by no ap¬ 
parent motive, and yet of suspicious origin, 


and if it is one of a series in the locality 
and caused by crude means, this would lead 
to belief that it was caused by a pyro¬ 
maniac. 

The best method is to try to detect them 
at fires, by looking for any person who 
seems to take great pleasure in seeing the 
flames, and to engage in conversation with 
such. If such person would boast of hav¬ 
ing turned in the alarm and of having made 
rescues, it would be suspicious. Evidence 
could also be secured by finding out wheth¬ 
er this person had been seen frequently at 
fires, around fire houses, etc. Also by 
smelling his hands, as the odor of kerosene 
lingers. After fixing suspicion, I would 
follow such person and try to get informa¬ 
tion regarding him. 

Pyromaniacs usually look between the 
ages of 16 and 25, though many of them are 
actually older. Their complexions are usu¬ 
ally sallow. 

In my opinion, the best disposition to 
make of pyromaniacs is to commit them to 
insane asylums, as their minds are diseased 
and they should receive medical treatment. 
If pyromaniacs are released from insane 
asylums after being confined there, the Fire 
Department should be notified so that the 
Fire Marshal can keep track of them. 

Ques. 6:—(a) Explain fully six different 
motives that impel people to set fires to 
property, and in each case point out the 
usual state of facts or conditions that ac¬ 
company such motive. 

(b) In the absence of apparent motive, 
what conclusions could a Fire Marshal rea¬ 
sonably draw? 

ANS.:—(a) (1) A person opens a store 
with a small stock, insures it heavily and 
sets fire to it to get the insurance money. 
He put in a cheap stock and cheap fittings 
and secured all the insurance possible, per¬ 
haps $20,000 on an $800 stock. 

(2) A person who is legitimately in busi¬ 
ness, but finds himself in financial straits, 
unable to meet his obligations. Rather than 
fail, he sets fire to his place, if well insured. 

(3) A person who is not in financial 
straits, but is losing money in business and 
wishes to sell out but can find no buyer; 
or who is sick and wishes to sell out; or 
who for other reasons has to give up his 
business. A successful fire, if he is well 
insured, would solve the problem. 

(4) A competitor setting fire to the store 
of a rival, or discharged employees doing so 
for revenge. In the case of competitor, it 
is usually because his rival is causing him 
to lose trade. 

(5) A pyromaniac doing so for the pleas¬ 
ure it gives him to witness the excitement. 
He selects places as the fancy strikes him 
and where the opportunity offers. 

(6) Persons doing so to conceal evidences 
of crime. A burglar goes into a store at 
night, is discovered at work, kills or knocks 
insensible his discoverer, and sets the place 
afire, so that his victim will perish in the 
flames. Or a dishonest employee may do so 


248 


to cause the destruction of books which 
would reveal embezzlement. 

(b) In the absence of apparent motive, 
the only conclusion could be carelessness or 
accident. 

Ques. 7:—Explain the meaning of the fol¬ 
lowing terms and state the essential facts 
regarding each. Explain clearly why a Fire 
Marshal should be familiar with each of 
them, (a) Chattel mortgage; (b) Judg¬ 
ment; (c) Principal in a crime; (d) Reputa¬ 
tion of a man; (e) Arson in second degree; 
(f) Conspiracy; (g) Contempt of Court; (h) 
Proofs of loss. 

ANS.:—(a) A chattel mortgage is an in¬ 
strument in writing in which an indebted¬ 
ness is secured by personal property. It 
must be recorded, like any other mortgage, 
to be valid. This knowledge is necessary to 
a Fire Marshal because the giving of a 
chattel mortgage by a business man is of¬ 
ten evidence of severe financial straits. 

(b) A judgment is a written order of a 
court commanding a person to pay a debt. 
It is usually evidence of inability to pay, and 
therefore may furnish a motive for a fire. 

(c) A principal in a crime is a person con¬ 
cerned in the commission of a crime, wheth¬ 
er he directly commits the act constituting 
the offense or aids and abets in its commis¬ 
sion, and whether present or absent; and a 
person who directly or indirectly counsels, 
commands, induces or procures another to 
commit a crime. In prosecuting a case a 
Fire Marshal needs to know whether to 
charge an accused with being a principal or 
an accessory. 

(d) Reputation of a man is the opinion 
which people who know him hold of him. 
The reputation of a man who has had a fire 
has an important bearing on the question of 
whether the fire was deliberate or unavoid¬ 
able. 

(e) Arson in the second degree is the act 
of wilful burning in the day time, which, if 
committed in the night time, would be ar¬ 
son in the first degree; or wilfully burning 
or setting on fire, in the night time, a 
dwelling house wherein at the time there is 
no human being; or wilfully setting on fire 
in the night time a building not inhabited 
but adjoining or within the curtilage of an 
inhabited building in which there is at the 
time a human being, so that the inhabited 
building is endangered, though not injured 
by the fire; or wilfully setting on fire, in 
the night time, a car, vessel or other vehicle 
or structure ordinarily occupied at night 
by a human being, although no person is 
in it at the time. The maximum penalty 
is twenty-five years’ imprisonment. 

(f) The following constitute Conspiracy: 
If two or more persons conspire to com¬ 
mit a crime; or falsely and maliciously, to 
indict another for a crime, or to procure 
another to be complained of or arrested for 
a crime; or falsely to institute or maintain 
an action or special proceeding; or to cheat 
and defraud another out of property, by any 
means which are in themselves criminal, or 
which, if executed, would amount to a cheat, 


oi to obtain money or any other property 
by false pretenses; or to prevent another 
from exercising a lawful trade or calling, or 
doing any other lawful act, by force, threats, 
intimidation, or by interfering or threat¬ 
ening to interfere with tools, implements, 
or property belonging to or used by an¬ 
other, or with the use or employment there- 
9 r commit an act injurious to the 
public health, to public morals, or to trade 
or commerce, or for the perversion or ob- 
strucUon of justice, or of the administration 
of the laws. 

A Fire Marshal should know this, as he 
frequently has to charge a defendant with 
conspiracy. 

(g) Contempt of Court is a crime com¬ 
mitted by a person who acts disorderly, con¬ 
temptuous or is of insolent behavior, com¬ 
mitted during the sitting of the Court, in 
its immediate view and presence and di¬ 
rectly tending to interrupt its proceedings 
or to impair the respect due to its author¬ 
ity; behavior of the like character commit¬ 
ted in the presence of a referee or referees, 
while actually engaged in a trial or hearing, 
pursuant to the order of a Court, or in the 
presence of a jury, while actually sitting for 
the trial of a cause, or upon an inquest or 
other proceeding authorized by law; or who 
commits a breach of the peace, noise, or 
other disturbance, directly intending to in¬ 
terrupt the proceeding of a Court, jury, or 
referee; wilful disobedience to the lawful 
process or other mandate of a Court; re¬ 
sistance wilfully offered to its lawful pro¬ 
cess or other mandate; contumacious and 
unlawful refusal to be sworn as a witness, 
or, after being sworn, to answer any legal 
and proper interrogatory. 

A Fire Marshal should be familiar with 
this because he is empowered to issue sub- 
poenaes and hear testimony. 

(h) Proofs of Loss.—The following are 
proofs of loss: If fire occur, the insured 
must give immediate notice of any loss in 
writing to the insurance company; protect 
the property from further damage; forth¬ 
with separate the damaged and undamaged 
personal property; put it in the best possi¬ 
ble order; make a complete inventory of 
the same, stating the quantity and cost of 
each article and the amount claimed there¬ 
on; and, within 60 days after the fire, must 
render a statement to the insurance com¬ 
pany, signed and sworn to by the insured, 
stating the knowledge and belief of the in¬ 
sured as to the time and origin of the fire; 
the interest of the insured and all others in 
the property; the cash value of each item 
thereof and the amount of loss thereon; all 
incumbrances thereon; all other insurance, 
whether valid or not, covering any of said 
property; a copy of all the descriptions and 
schedules, in all policies; any change in the 
title, use, occupation, location, possession 
or exposures of said property since the issu¬ 
ing of the policy; by whom and for what 
purpose any part of the building or parts 
thereof were occupied at the time of the 
fire; and must furnish, if required, a certifi¬ 
cate of the Magistrate or Notary Public 


(not interested in the claim as a creditor 
or otherwise, nor related to the insured) liv¬ 
ing nearest the place of the fire, stating that 
he has examined the circumstances and be¬ 
lieves that the insured has honestly sus¬ 
tained loss to the amount that such Magis¬ 
trate or Notary Public shall certify. 

These specifications are included in all 
standard fire insurance policies. Fire Mar¬ 
shals should have a knowledge of the meth¬ 
ods of proofs of loss, because such knowl¬ 
edge contains important information re¬ 
garding financial condition, etc. 

Ques. 8:—What practical suggestions 
would you make for occupants or owners 
of a tenement house to prevent fires from 
each of the following causes: (a) ashes; (b) 
wiring; (c) chimneys; (d) spontaneous com¬ 
bustion; (e) matches and candles; (f) gaso¬ 
lene? 

ANS.:—(a) The floor for several feet 
about the stove should be covered with tin 
or other suitable fireproof covering. The 
receptacles for receiving coal should be of 
tin or iron and never of wood. No inflam¬ 
mable material should be allowed near 
ashes. Care should be taken not to throw 
hot ashes on the floor. Can containing 
ashes should not be used for rubbish, paper, 
etc. 

(b) Care should be taken to see that all 
wires connect properly and that there is no 
short circuit. Inflammable materials should 
not be placed near wire connections. All 
electrical wires should be properly insu¬ 
lated. Care should be taken that the wires 
do not become loose or slack, disarranged, 
grounded or otherwise impaired. 

(c) The main point is the cleaning of the 
chimney from all soot. Chimneys should 
be cleaned at regular intervals. Stovepipes 
should have no openings through which 
soot could fall, and pipes should fit flues 
closely and be protected by collars. Chim¬ 
neys should not be cracked. 

(d) Oily rags, explosives, etc., should not 
be kept in closets or airtight places. They 
should be kept in the open air or in some 
place where no harm can be done by fire. 
The floors should be free from oil and 
grease. Dirty clothing, with oil or grease, 
should not be put away in piles in a closed 
room. Charcoal should not be in contact 
with fats or oils. Explosive cleaning fluids, 
kerosene, etc., must not be kept in warm 
places. 

(e) Matches should be in metal recepta¬ 
cles and out of the reach of children and 
away from heat. No loose matches should 
be allowed lying around anywhere. Care 
should be taken that the fire of the match 
is extinguished when throwing it away. 
Never throw a match into a pile of paper or 
in the rubbish can. A match, immediately 
after extinguishment, even after the flame 
is out, is still dangerous because it is a live 
coal for some seconds. Never keep loose 
matches in the pockets of clothes. Candles, 
when burning, should be set firmly in a 
candlestick or otherwise, as fires may be 
caused by the falling over of lighted can¬ 


dles. Never light a candle .and leave 
house unless every safeguard is first taken. 
Never set a candle on a combustible mate¬ 
rial, as when the candle burns low the 
combustible may ignite. Candles should 
not be placed too near combustible mate¬ 
rial or near an open window where the wind 
blows. Never allow children to hold 
lighted candles. Care should be taken when 
holding a lighted candle in a congested . 
clothes closet. It is advisable to remove 
lighted candles from tables with tablecloths. 
Never hold a candle near curtains, draper¬ 
ies, etc. 

(f) All gasoline should be kept in safety 
cans and not in a warm or close room, as 
the vapor arising from the gasoline is ex¬ 
plosive. Never hold gasoline near a stove 
that is heated, nor near a stove when it is 
being filled. Not more than one gallon 
should be kept on hand, and it should be 
in a safety can, and preferably outside of a 
window, hung on a hook. 

Ques. 9:—You are seeking evidence to 
convict the owner of a store of arson. 

The man’s brother-in-law says the store 
was over-insured. The man denied this 
and retorted that his brother-in-law is ac¬ 
tuated by malice. A small boy informs you 
that he heard that a wagon had “backed 
up” in front of the store at 4 A. M. and 
carted away a lot of goods, which the own¬ 
er denies. 

A neighbor says that he heard a quan¬ 
tity of kerosene had been delivered at the 
store a week before, and the remains of 
several kerosene cans were found after the 
fire. Two candles partly burned were 
found in the store after the fire, which the 
owner says were used by him in connec¬ 
tion with sealing wax. To what extent, if 
any, could you use the foregoing as legal 
evidence? What investigations, if any, are 
necessary? What investigations would you 
make, and what evidence would you en¬ 
deavor to produce to substantiate each of 
the foregoing statements which you be¬ 
lieve to be trustworthy? With a view of 
helping the District Attorney, how would 
you prepare the evidence in the case? 

ANS.:—The question of over-insurance 
could be used as legal evidence by ascer¬ 
taining the amount for which he is insured 
and having a competent person appraise the 
stock and make affidavit as to his findings. 
The statement of the small boy would re¬ 
quire support from other witnesses. The 
presence of kerosene and candles would 
have no legal value unless supported by evi¬ 
dence that they had a connection with the 
origin of the fire. 

The next question, “What investigations, 
if any, are necessary?” need not be an¬ 
swered, because the following sentence in¬ 
volves the same and more. 

I would investigate as follows: 

The charge of over-insurance, as already 
stated. If appraisal impossible, then by 
study of his books, invoices, etc., and by 
inquiry from the houses from whom he 
made his purchases. 



250 



Try to locate the man who is alleged to 
have carted goods away and ascertain what 
he did with the goods. If this is impossi¬ 
ble, get testimony of persons other than 
the boy to substantiate fact that goods were 
carted away, with best description possible 
of wagon, horses and man. Question all 
employees of the insured as to whether 
there apparently were any goods missing. 
Also notify police to look for supposed 
missing stock. 

Take testimony from proprietor and 
clerks on subject of whether any, and, if so, 
how much, kerosene was on hand; why 
kept; whether quantity was usual or unu¬ 
sual; where purchased. Then verify from 
store from which purchased whether last 
purchase was unusual. Investigate rem¬ 
nants of fire to detect presence of kerosene 
on rags where fire started; whether there 
was an odor of kerosene detected when fire 
broke out; whether the cans were in a usual 
or unusual place, considering reasons given 
by proprietor in his testimony regarding 
the kerosene. If ownership of cans is de¬ 
nied, investigate to ascertain where they 
came from. Hold cans as evidence. 

Note the positions of the candles and 
whether they were so placed that, coupled 
with other evidence, they may have caused 
fire. Note whether candles were near the 
kerosene cans. Take testimony on amount 
of sealing done, for what purpose; note 
whether the candles were found in proxim¬ 
ity to sealing wax. See whether any clerk 
can substantiate use of candles for sealing 
purposes. Ascertain who bought the can¬ 
dles, and when and where. 

For the benefit of the District Attorney, 
would have all witnesses sworn and trans¬ 
mit all the testimony in writing, giving 
names and addresses in every instance. 
Would furnish all necessary facts as to 
amount of insurance; result of appraisal; 
reputation of insured; books, records, etc. 
Would mark the kerosene cans and candles 
as exhibits to be used as evidence, accom¬ 
panied by affidavits; also saturated rags, 
etc., if any found. 

Ques. 10:—A fire occurred at midnight in 
an automobile supply store and the ignition 
of an explosive combustible spread the 
flames so rapidly that the building and con¬ 
tents were totally destroyed. From the 
owner’s statement below mention all pos¬ 
sible causes for the fire which occur to you, 
and then state which you consider the most 
plausible, supporting your theory with rea¬ 
sons and a logical explanation both of the 
cause of the fire and the manner of its de¬ 
velopments. 

“The store was in an old, rat-infested 
building which I had fitted up two years 
ago. A tramp electrician wired it for elec¬ 
tric lighting as the gas light was insufficient, 
and I had a second-hand stove put in the 
center of the room to give us heat. On 
the night of the fire, I knocke^d off at 10 
o’clock, leaving John Brown, 65 years old, 
the man who lost his life in the store, with 
instructions to close up in half an hour. 


When I left he was smoking a pipe and 
reading a paper by the stove. The night 
was windy; the gasoline was stored in the 
front, and a quantity of the same in the rear. 
The matches I kept in wooden boxes on the 
lower shelves, and the rags we used for 
cleaning oil and grease were thrown in a 
corner. A gas jet burned near a window 
opened from the top, and my office coat 
hung from a nail near the window.” 

ANS.:—The fire might have been started 
by the gnawing of matches by the rats, 
thereby igniting them. It might have been 
caused by defective insulation or short cir¬ 
cuit, caused by defective work by the 
tramp electrician not insulating and con¬ 
necting the wires properly. The second¬ 
hand stove might have cracked in the bot¬ 
tom and let hot coals fall out. The old 
man, John Brown, might have been care¬ 
less in throwing away matches when light¬ 
ing his pipe, or he might have fallen asleep 
on the chair and let his paper fall on the 
heated stove. The fire might have been 
caused by the vapor from the gasoline, if 
the gasoline cans were not covered, as the 
vapor in contact with naked light could 
cause explosion. The fire might have been 
caused by spontaneous combustion from 
the oily rags. It might have been caused 
by the ignition of the office coat hanging 
on a nail, by being blown against the 
lighted gas jet near the window. 

In my opinion, the most plausible cause 
was ignition of the office coat by the gas 
jet. As the night was windy, the draft 
of air coming in from the top of the open 
window might easily blow the coat into the 
flame of the jet. The wind then spread the 
fire to adjoining objects, and the presence 
of the gasoline doubled the rapidity with 
which the fire spread. The explosion 
caused by the gasoline fumes would have 
caused the fire to travel in an upward di¬ 
rection, setting fire to the ceiling and to the 
upper floors of the building. 

The fire could also have been caused by 
spontaneous combustion caused by the oily 
rags, but as combustion is most favorably 
accomplished when rags are kept in air¬ 
tight places, spontaneous combustion would 
have been the least likely cause. 

REPORT—Weight 1. 

Write a report of about 250 words on the 
proper method of choosing an Assistant 
Fire Marshal. In this report discuss: 

(a) The value of a training as a Fireman 
and his temporary availability on assign¬ 
ment by the Fire Commissioner. 

(b) The disadvantages an ordinary Fire¬ 
man would be likely to labor under. 

(c) The chances of obtaining the best 
man from an open competitive list. 

(d) The possibilities of not getting the 
best man from an open competitive class. 

(e) Finally compare and sum all the 
advantages and disadvantages of both meth¬ 
ods of selection. 

(Do not sign any name or number to this 
report.) 


ANSWER:— 

New York, Nov. 15, 1911. 

John Doe, 

Fire Marshal. 

Sir:—In compliance with your request, I 
respectfully submit the following opinion: 

(a) Training as a Fireman is of value, for 
a Fireman knows from experience much re¬ 
garding the origin of fires. The value of 
his availability on temporary assignment 
would be in ratio to his value on permanent 
assignment. 

(b) The ordinary Fireman would labor 
under the disadvantage of not having had 
the required mental training, the principal 
requirements of his position being good 
physique and good lung capacity. An As¬ 
sistant Fire Marshal, on the other hand, 
should have a knowledge of law, business 
affairs, bookkeeping, etc., coupled with 
some detective ability. 

(c) If Firemen were to be detailed to the 
work of Assistant Fire Marshals, good re¬ 
sults might be obtained in certain element¬ 
ary respects, but completely satisfactory re¬ 
sults could not be expected from one 
trained for an altogether different work. 
In an open competitive examination, only 
the fittest can survive, and if the question 
be practical, only the most fit will be able 
to answer them with a high degree of ex¬ 
cellence. The most fit persons are not in 
every instance obtained through civil serv¬ 
ice tests, because sometimes a successful 
candidate is clever but impractical; but a 
well-conducted civil service test insures a 
good average competency. 

The disadvantage of making appoint¬ 
ments in any way other than from a com¬ 
petitive list is that there is no assurance 
that the appointment is made for merit 
alone; also there is no assurance that the 
appointing officer has subjected the candi¬ 
date to as searching a test as he must un¬ 
dergo in a civil service examination. 

Respectfully submitted, 


Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ASST. FIRE MARSHAL. 

Fire Department. 

Date: March 1, 1907. 

Ques. 1:—Define the different degrees of 
arson in the State of New York. 

ANS.:—There are three degrees of arson 
in the State of New York—first, second and 
third. 

First degree arson is an act committed by 
a person who unlawfully burns or sets fire, 
in the night time, to a dwelling house in 
which there is at the time a human being; 
or a car, vessel or other habitation in which 
there is at the time, to the knowledge of the 
offender, a human being. The penalty is 
usually 40 years’ imprisonment. 

Second degree arson is an act committed 
by a person who sets fire to a dwelling 


■ 

house in the daytime, which, if committed 
at night, would constitute first degree ar¬ 
son; or wilfully burning, in the night time, a 
dwelling in which there is no human being, 
or wilfully burning or setting on fire, in the 
night time, a building that is not inhabited, 
but adjoining or within the curtilage of an 
inhabited building in which there is a hu¬ 
man being, so that the inhabited building is 
endangered, though not actually burned; or 
setting on fire any structure, at night, which 
is ordinarily occupied at night by a human 
being, though no person is in at the time. 
The penalty is usually 25 years’ imprison¬ 
ment. 

Third degree arson is an act committed 
by a person who wilfully sets fire to any 
structure or vessel which is insured against 
loss by fire, with intent to prejudice the 
owner thereof, or committing any other act 
of burning which does not constitute arson 
in the first or second degree. The penalty 
for this offense is usually 15 years’ impris¬ 
onment. 

Ques. 2:—Describe fully the power vested 
in the Fire Marshal to compel the attend¬ 
ance of witnesses at an investigation of 
origin of fire. 

ANS.:—'The Fire Marshal may compel 
the attendance of any person or persons, 
and the production of any books, papers, 
archives or documents in his or their pos¬ 
session, at any hearing, inquiry or investi¬ 
gation at any time specified by the Fire 
Marshal. The Fire Marshal may issue sub¬ 
poenas, which are served like ordinary sub¬ 
poenas. Upon failure to attend on the part 
of witnesses, after due proof of service is 
given, the Fire Commissioner may order the 
arrest of such person or persons, in order 
that they may be brought to the hearing, 
investigation or inquiry for the purpose of 
testifying all that they may know in con¬ 
nection with the case pending. The Fire 
Marshal is authorized to administer oaths. 
False swearing under such oath or affir¬ 
mation is perjury and offenders are liable 
to punishment as prescribed by law. The 
Fire Marshal may adjourn hearings, etc., 
and may reopen same at any time or place, 
as may be deemed advisable by him. Wit¬ 
nesses are required to be present at such re¬ 
opened hearings under the same conditions 
as stated in the foregoing. 

Ques.' 3:—(a) Name seven substances 
which, on account of their explosive or com¬ 
bustible qualities, may not be kept in a 
wholesale or retail drug store in New York 
City; (b) in the following, name the sub¬ 
stances for the keeping of which a permit 
is required from the Fire Commissioner, 
giving your reasons briefly: Oxalic acid, 
phosphorus, carbolic acid, lampblack, car¬ 
bide of calcium, corrosive sublimate, arse¬ 
nic, nitrate of silver, white lead, borax. 

ANS.:—(a) Nitroglycerine, fulminate of 
mercury, guncotton, chloride of nitrogen, 
gunpowder, chlorate of potash in mixtures 
with organic substances, liquid of acetyline 
and flashlight powder. 




(b) OXALIC ACID: Permit required 
when in combination with sulphuric and 
other acids. When in contact with such 
substances, explosions may very likely oc¬ 
cur. PHOSPHORUS: Permit required. 

This chemical ignites spontaneously when 
in contact with heat or warmth. Warm at¬ 
mosphere or the heat of a man’s blood 
will cause it to ignite, and it is exceedingly 
dangerous for storage. CARBOLIC ACID: 

No permit required: LAMPBLACK: Per¬ 
mit required when it is kept in quantities of 
over five pounds. Fire may be caused by 
spontaneous combustion. CARBIDE OF 
CALCIUM: Permit is required. Carbide 
of calcium, when in contact with moisture, 
forms an acetyline gas, which is explosive. 
CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE: No permit 
required. ARSENIC: No permit required. 
NITRATE OF SILVER: Permit required 
when stored in quantities. Nitrate of silver 
will explode when struck by a hard sub¬ 
stance. WHITE LEAD: No permit re¬ 
quired. BORAX: No permit required. 

Ques. 4:—What are the regulations of the 
Tenement House Act concerning each of 
the following: (a) Windows and doors lead¬ 
ing into halls from any part of a tenement 
house where paint is stored; (b) Bakeries 
in tenement houses? 

ANS.:—(a) All transoms and windows 
opening into halls from any portion of a 
tenement house where paint, oil, spirituous 
liquors or drugs or stored for the purpose 
of sale, or otherwise, shall be glazed with 
wire-glass or shall be removed and closed 
up as solidly as the rest of the wall; and all 
doors leading into such hall from such por¬ 
tion of said house shall be made fireproof. 

(b) No bakery shall be maintained in any 
tenement house that is not fireproof 
throughout, and the ceiling, sidewalls and 
all exposed iron or wooden girders or col¬ 
umns within said bakery are made safe by 
fireproof materials around same, and there 
shall be no openings either by door or win¬ 
dow, dumbwaiter shafts, or otherwise, be¬ 
tween said bakery -where fat is boiled and 
other parts of the building, except in cases 
of bakeries where no fat is boiled a dumb¬ 
waiter communicating between the place 
where the baking is done and the store 
above may be maintained if entirely closed 
in a brick shaft with walls not less than 8 
inches thick, without any openings what¬ 
ever, except one door opening into the bake- 
shop and one door opening into the store. 
Such openings shall each be provided with 
a fireproof door so arranged that when one 
door is open or partly open, the other door 
shall be entirely closed. 

Ques. 5:—To avoid possible spread of fire, 
in what manner must dumbwaiter shafts be 
constructed according to the Building Code 
of the City of New York? (b) Upon what 
classes of buildings must fire escapes be 
placed in New York City? 

ANS.:—(a) All shafts constructed in tene¬ 
ment houses shall be fireproof throughout, 
with fireproof self-closing doors at all 

253 


openings, at each story, except window 
openings in vent shafts, which, if they ex¬ 
tend to the cellar, shall also be inclosed in 
the cellar with fireproof walls and fireproof 
self-closing doors at all openings. In no 
case shall any shaft be constructed of ma¬ 
terials in which any inflammable substances 
enter into any of the component parts. 

(b) Fire escapes must be placed on every 
building more than three stories in height, 
every dwelling house occupied or built to 
be occupied by three or more families, all 
buildings which are used and occupied as 
lodging houses, all boarding houses having 
more than fifteen sleeping rooms above the 
basement story, every factory, mill, work¬ 
shop, hospital, asylum or institution for the 
care of individuals, and every office build¬ 
ing five stories or more in height. 

Ques. 6:—In what way may fire from 
spontaneous combustion arise in each of 
the following: (1) Printing offices; (2) 
Hotels; (3) Paint shops? What precautions 
may be taken to avoid possible danger of 
fire from the above causes? 

ANS.:—(1) Spontaneous combustion may 
occur in print shops from the cotton gaso¬ 
line and paper used to clean type. The cot¬ 
ton may become ignited by being left near 
machinery heated by the friction caused by 
operation. In order to prevent such fires, 
all cotton and paper should be thrown 
into a tin receptacle, which should be emp¬ 
tied at the end of each day or before going 
home. (2) Fire may occur in the kitchens 
of hotels through the constant fat-frying, 
the presence of lard, etc. Fire may also 
occur in the engine room, owing to the 
various volatile inflammable materials used. 
The kitchens should be thoroughly ven¬ 
tilated to reduce the temperature, and care 
taken that fat and grease do not collect on 
the stove nor the floor to become saturated 
with fat. Cleaning rags, paper and matches, 
etc., should be kept in tin receptacles. (3) 
Spontaneous combustion may occur in paint 
shops by paper on floor being saturated 
with volatile inflammable material. All pa¬ 
per, rags, etc., should be kept in tin cans, 
and the floors should be kept scrupulously 
clean and dry. 

Ques. 7:—What classes of buildings may 
not be licensed by the Fire Commissioner 
for the keeping of automobiles in New 
York City? 

ANS.:—The Fire Commissioner is for¬ 
bidden to issue garage permits to a build¬ 
ing which is occupied in any part as a 
dwelling, a hospital, a theater, a church, a 
school or as a boarding, lodging or tene¬ 
ment house. The only exception to this 
provision is that a license may be granted 
for a private garage in a building occupied 
in part as a dwelling by the family of an 
owner, a lessee, or an employee; but in case 
the said building in which the private gar¬ 
age is to be located is of fireproof construc¬ 
tion throughout, and the living apartments 
are separated from the garage by unpierced 
fireproof walls and floors, the same may be 


occupied by two families, each of which 
shall be the family of an owner, a lessee or 
an employee of the licensee. Permits may 
not be granted to a building where, at any 
one time, more than ten people congregate 
in a portion of the building that is outside 
of the garage and is not separated there¬ 
from by unpierced, approved fire walls and 
floors; where all sewer connections from 
washstands and sinks are not provided with 
an approved oil trap with a glass gauge pipe 
and a draw-off cock, in a readily accessible 
place. Garages which are given permits are 
not authorized to keep more than ten gal¬ 
lons of volatile inflammable liquid, which 
must be kept in approved safety cans; nor 
more than 1,375 gallons or 25 barrels of vo¬ 
latile inflammable fluids in underground 
storage tanks; nor more than 120 pounds 
of calcium carbide, which must be con¬ 
tained in airtight containers. 

Ques. 8:—Describe fully the various steps 
you would take and the inquiries you would 
make if sent to investigate a fire of suspi¬ 
cious origin which occurred at the place of 
business of a manufacturer of cloaks. 

(NOTE: This is a very important ques¬ 
tion and the answer will be divided into 
two parts. The first part will relate to de¬ 
tective ability and the second to practical 
knowledge of fires and their origin.) 

ANS.:—Detective Ability.—The first 
thing I would do, after examining the prem¬ 
ises for evidence of possible incendiarism 
would be to study into the probability of 
the person affected setting fire to the prem¬ 
ises himself. If destruction was so com¬ 
plete, or if for other causes the premises 
gave no evidence of incendiarism, I would 
proceed as follows: 

I would ascertain whether the owner of 
the cloak business was insured. If so, in 
what companies and to what amount. If 
the stock were small and the insurance 
heavy, it would be suspicious. I would in¬ 
vestigate his character, whether he had pre¬ 
viously had fires, what his fire record was 
during the time he had been in business, 
etc., to form an opinion as to whether on 
general grounds it was probable that he 
might resort to incendiarism. 

An important consideration would be 
whether or not the business was making 
money and whether he would be the loser 
or gainer by having a fire. The investiga¬ 
tion would include not only the possibility 
of the owner having set fire to the prem¬ 
ises, but also the possibility of its having 
been set afire by an enemy. 

The first thing to do would be to question 
other occupants of the building, neighbors, 
policemen, watchmen and others whether 
they had observed any person in or near 
the premises before the fire broke out. I 
would find out whether tenants of the build¬ 
ing were customarily there at night (if the 
fire took place at night) thus making as the 
first step the gathering of actual evidence. 
If the owner or any employee were there 
that night (assuming the fire to have taken 
place at night, which is the time incendiary 


fires usually occur), I would ascertain 
whether they customarily worked nights. 

Anything unusual about the hour of com¬ 
ing or going would be important. I would 
question the owner closely as to his where¬ 
abouts before the fire and ask him for his 
opinion as to the origin. I would endeavor 
to ascertain whether perhaps he had been 
notified of the fire and failed to attend, or 
whether he was present at the fire sooner 
than it could reasonably be supposed that 
he could arrive there from his residence or 
whatever place he said he was just prior to 
the fire, whether he had kept his stock low 
or had just received considerable new stock. 
If incendiary, he would likely see to it that 
he had as little stock on hand at the time 
of the fire as possible. Any evidence that 
he had declined to receive goods that day 
or that he had dismissed his employees ear¬ 
lier than usual or done anything unusual 
might indicate an advance knowledge of a 
fire. I would also confer with the represen¬ 
tatives of the insurance companies to see 
whether they could lend any assistance. 

After gathering all the actual evidence I 
could and working on such theories as 
seemed justifiable, I would, if I found that 
there was reasonable ground for believing 
that there had been incendiarism, report all 
the facts to the Fire Marshal, furnish a list 
of witnesses to be subpoenaed and recom¬ 
mend the lines of investigation. 

Practical Knowledge.—I would determine 
the cause of a fire by observation of the 
character of the burning. If I saw that 
only the ceiling and walls were affected, and 
the chairs and furniture untouched, I would 
have reason to believe that fire was caused 
by a “flash”—that is, an explosion, causing 
the walls and ceilings to catch fire. I would 
then have basis to inquire into a cause of 
explosion. The condition of the walls and 
ceiling is ground to suspect combustion 
caused by some gas or vapor filling the 
room. The next step I would take would 
be to determine whether the room was 
lighted in any manner. This, together with 
escaping gas or gaseous vapor, would be 
another ground for suspicion of incen¬ 
diarism. 

I would smell all the receptacles, rags, 
etc., to detect the odor of any chemical or 
oil which may have been used. 

Very often combustion is caused by fill¬ 
ing the room with a vapor from benzine or 
naphtha contained in a receptacle placed on 
the floor. As soon as I entered the room I 
would look for pans, cans, etc., which may 
have contained such combustible fluid. I 
would then examine the walls and ceilings 
to determine the character and route of the 
burning. In almost all cases, combustion 
caused by vaporous naphtha or benzine will 
have an upward burning, as when ignition 
occurs a flash shoots up into the air. 

When this phase of the investigation was 
comnleted, the gas jets and other methods 
of illumination would then be subjected to 
examination. No detail would be too small 
for investigation. 

If the furniture and chairs and other fix- 


254 


tures were slightly affected by the fire, 
while the walls and ceilings had been se¬ 
verely scorched, and saturated rags, papers 
and suspicious looking cans and pans were 
found, together with an unsatisfactory ac¬ 
counting by the owner of his whereabouts, 

I would then have reasonable grounds to 
make a report of probable arson. 

A form of incendiarism frequently em¬ 
ployed in such stores is by the use of 
cheesecloth saturated with a mixture of 
vegetable oil and benzine. I would exam¬ 
ine the merchandise with a view of detect¬ 
ing threads of cheesecloth on the merchan¬ 
dise. If fire is caused by this method, there 
frequently are traces of the burnt threads. 
The cloth is usually laid flat over the mer¬ 
chandise, covering it entirely. It is then 
ignited. The use of this method may also 
be detected by noticing the character of 
the burning. It will usually be found that 
mainly the merchandise is affected, while 
the surrounding fixtures are little injured. 

Another form of incendiarism is the 
use of burnt fuses stretched along the floor. 
This is done by running powder fuses along 
the floor leading to a bladder containing 
ether or other gases, or volatile inflam¬ 
mable oils, etc. The fuse is lighted on 
one end, which burns slowly until it 
reaches the bladder, when explosion occurs. 
This method allows time for escape. 

Another method is running powder 
fuse along a floor with lighted candle at 
one end. This candle is allowed to burn 
until it burns down to the floor and ignites 
the fuse. These forms of incendiarism 
may be detected by closely examining the 
floors for traces of fuses, candles, bladders, 
tanks, rubber, etc. 

If there were no such evidences of in¬ 
cendiarism in the rooms, I would then 
search the hallways for burnt paper, rags, 
etc., as sometimes “pyromaniacs” set fire 
to stores by the use of paper and rags 
saturated with oil. If I had reason to 
suspect that the fire was caused in such a 
way, I would interview the neighbors, po¬ 
licemen, etc., to ascertain* whether they 
had observed any person to act queerly 
near there. If any such person had been 
seen, I would obtain as good a description 
of him as possible and report to the Fire 
Marshal so that he could take the proper 
steps to have him taken into custody. 

Ques. 9 and 10:—Describe fully five 
methods used by incendiaries at the 
present time for committing arson with the 
.least probability of detection. If sent to 
investigate, state what indications would 
arouse your suspicions in each case. 

ANS.:—(1) By the use of vapor. This 
is done by placing an open pan of benzine 
or naphtha on a table or on the floor. 
The characteristic of these two volatiles is 
that they evaporate readily, and being in¬ 
flammatory they are susceptible to easy 
combustion. The usual method is to leave 
a candle or gas jet burning in the room. 
The light is placed higher than the pan, as 
the gas rises and accumulates more about 
the ceiling than the floor. 


The method of detection is to examine 
the character of the burning. Fire caused 
by a vapor is usually accompanied by a 
flash. The flash affects the ceiling and 
upper parts of the room more than the floor 
or fixtures, which latter are sometimes little 
affected. Sometimes a fire of this character 
can be detected by the odor. Inquiry 
should be made to ascertain whether any 
naphtha or similar substance was on the 
premises or purchased in the neighborhood. 
It is important to learn, if possible, whether 
any light was burning in the room prior to 
explosion, since that would verify that at 
least one necessary condition was present. 

(2) Filling the room with gas by turning 
on the gas jets and leaving one jet burning. 
After a sufficient quantity of gas has es¬ 
caped, the lighted jet will cause an explo¬ 
sion. The first evidence to look for is to 
see whether the gas jets are open. If 
there are a number of them and all are 
open the circumstantial evidence would be 
very strong. In case of total destruction, 
preventing any examination, inquiry could 
be made of the other tenants or neighbors 
as to whether they smelled gas before the 
fire. 

(3) Lighting oil-soaked paper and rags 
in hallways or within rooms. Traces of 
rags and paper should be looked for, also 
for the odor of oil or benzine. If the dam¬ 
age were not too severe, evidence could 
be found, also, by the burning being 
markedly in one spot, and if there were no 
other discoverable cause, the fact of a 
severe burning in one spot without any¬ 
thing customarily being in that place to 
cause it would justify the conclusion that 
something highly inflammable had been 
placed there. Also, if the articles in the 
room had been grouped close to the spot 
where the fire originated. Any unusual 
arrangement of the contents of the room 
would be suspicious. 

Fires of this character occurring in hall¬ 
ways are sometimes caused by pyroma¬ 
niacs. Since hallways contain no furniture, 
and are not supposed to contain any con¬ 
siderable quantity of paper or rags, a hall¬ 
way fire is usually suspicious. Inquiry 
should be made from the policeman on 
post, from watchmen and from neighbors 
as to whether any strange person was seen 
thereabouts prior to the fire. 

Referring to the class of fires started 
by oil-saturated rags, etc., the following is 
from a report recently given in a daily 
newspaper on a suspicious fire, which broke 
out in a room in a tenement house. One 
of the tenants, when questioned, gave the 
following important testimony: 

“It was about 10 o’clock when I noticed 
a strong smell of gasoline. Then I saw 
that oil was dripping through my ceiling. 
I ran to H—*—’s flat and knocked. There 
was no response, and I broke down the 
door. I found four candles burning in the 
two front rooms. They were almost 
burned out and were resting on piles of 
newspapers that had been soaked with oil. 
Paper, every bit of it oil soaked, was 


255 



strewn about the five rooms, and in some 
places so much oil had been poured on that 
floor that it had soaked through. I snuffed 
the candles out and went for the police.” 

(4) By placing cheesecloth, dipped in 
a mixture of benzine and vegetable oil, 
over merchandise. This is frequently done 
in clothing or drygoods establishments 
where the goods are mainly on counters 
or tables. The saturated cheesecloth is 
spread over the clothing and ignited by 
fuse or otherwise. The flames spread very 
rapidly. In fires caused in this manner the 
tables and clothing suffer most, while the 
walls and ceiling are little affected. Usually, 
also, the stock of merchandise is partly 
removed from its usual place and concen¬ 
trated so as to get it within as small a 
space as possible and under cover of the 
cheesecloth. Usually there will be little 
merchandise left in drawers or on the 
shelving near the floor. The floor is not 
much affected in fires of this class unless 
the fire attains considerable headway before 
being discovered. The saturated cheese¬ 
cloth is used not alone because it spreads 
the fire very rapidly, but also because in a 
clothing fire a partial damage is often suf¬ 
ficient to accomplish the end of collecting 
a considerable amount of the insurance. 
Threads of cheesecloth here and there 
among the damaged goods would consti¬ 
tute a valuable evidence. Also trace of a 
fuse on the floor. 

(5) By the use of fuses in various ways. 

One method is by placing a powder fuse 
strung along the floor with a lighted candle 
at one end. The fuse is ignited when the 
candle burns down. Another method is 
to have the fuse, with a lighted candle at 
one end, lead to a bladder filled with ether 
or other volatile, inflammable substance, 
the result of which is an explosion, but not 
accompanied by a loud report. 

The principal evidence to look for in such 
case is the trace of the fuse on the floor; 
also traces of the candle. The use of the 
fuse and candle allows time for the in¬ 
cendiary to escape, since after lighting the 
candle it takes fifteen minutes or a half-hour 
for it to burn down to the fuse. 

REPORT. 

Ques.—Assuming such details as you 
wish, write a report of not less than 150 
words, nor more than 250, concerning a fire 
which took place in the boiler room of 
Bellevue Hospital. This report is to be ad¬ 
dressed to the Fire Marshal, and should 
contain all facts and recommendations 
thought necessary for an Assistant Fire 
Marshal’s report. (N. B.—Sign this report 
Richard Roe.) 

ANSWER:— 

New York, March 1, 1907. 

Fire Marshal, 

Fire Headquarters, 

New York. 

Sir:— 

I have the honor to submit the following 
report in regard to a fire which I investi¬ 


gated to-day in the boiler roof of Belle¬ 
vue Hospital: 

The boiler room is situated in the cellar 
of the main building, and is in charge of 
John McCauley, of 324 East 24th Street, 
who is a regular licensed engineer. Dam¬ 
age about $500. Fire started at 9 P. M. on 
May 24, 1910, and was probably due to a 
defective flue. After examining the engi¬ 
neer, I learned that he had no knowledge 
of the starting of the fire, as he was out 
of the boiler room at the time responding 
to a call of the Superintendent. The blaze 
also caught on the ambulance house, which 
is adjoining, but the fire did not progress 
any further than burning the window 
sashes, a door and a partition. The emer¬ 
gency fire corps, composed of employees 
of Bellevue Hospital, fought the fire by 
playing a low-pressure hose on it, but this 
was ineffective. An alarm was turned in 
by Patrolman Edward Snyder, of the prison 
ward of the hospital, which was responded 
to promptly, and the fire was put out in 
about ten minutes. 

Respectfully submitted, 

RICHARD ROE. 

Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

FIRE MARSHAL (Prom.), 

Fire Department. 

DUTIES. 

Weight 5. 

Date: June 25, 1912. 

(To be finished by 1 P. M.) 

1. (a) What are the powers of the Fire 
Marshal with respect to the inspection of 
all buildings? (b) State two instances 
which have come within the range of your 
experience in which fires have occurred 
from causes not in the common class. 
State the recommendations that you would 
have made in each instance to prevent their 
occurrence. 

2. (a) Mention six points which you 
would take into consideration in fixing the 
responsibility upon a person alleged to be 
guilty of setting fire to a building, (b) If 
during your investigation of a fire you re¬ 
ceived word that certain witnesses were to 
be approached with the view of getting 
them to give favorable testimony for the 
accused, what steps would you take to pre¬ 
vent such interference? 

3. All fires may be said to originate 
mainly from two sources, namely, from the 
physical properties c-r construction of the 
building or from the negligence or careless¬ 
ness of the owner of the building or others. 
Give five instances of fires occurring from 
each of these sources, and state the pre¬ 
ventive measures you would recommend en¬ 
forced in each case you cite. 

4. (a) Mention the fire dangers that may 
result from roofs that are covered with ma¬ 
terials that have non-fireproof resisting 


256 




qualities, (b) State the requirements that 
a good fireproof roof covering should have 
and the protection it affords in case of fire 
against loss or damage, (c) Explain some 
of the reasons automatic sprinklers in case 
of fire prove unsatisfactory. How could 
this be prevented? 

5. Discuss the fire hazard in the follow¬ 
ing classes of property: (a) Carriage and 
wagon factories; (b) bleach and dye works; 
(c) mattress factories; (d) carpenter shops; 
(e) flour mills. 

6. (a) Give a full account of the manner 
in which you would investigate the follow¬ 
ing case: 

A great fire in the middle of the night 
destroys a five-story brick building on the 
lower Bowery. A rear building used as a 
clothes cleaning establishment is also de¬ 
stroyed. Several lives have been lost. The 
front building had a saloon on the ground 
floor and the rest of the building was used 
as a cheap lodging house. Men were ad¬ 
mitted at all hours of the night, and the 
rules as to smoking, etc., received little con¬ 
sideration. There were no fire escapes on 
the rear building, and those in front were 
not in the best of order. The clothes clean¬ 
ing establishment was open only in the 
daytime. There was a watchman at night, 
but no trace of him could be discovered 
after the fire. 

(b) State the causes which, in your opin¬ 
ion, from the conditions given above, might 
lead you to believe that the fire was of in¬ 
cendiary origin or the result of careless¬ 
ness. Note also all the possible violations 
of the law and fix the responsibility for 
such violations. 

7. In conducting an investigation of a 
fire of a supposed incendiary origin the re¬ 
sults of your examination of the witnesses 
are as follows: 

Witness “A” claims he saw the accused 
running from the building after he (A) had 
sent in the alarm. 

“B,” who arrived on the scene shortly 
after “A,” gives testimony that while he did 
not see the defendant leave the building 
“A” pointed him out as the possible cul¬ 
prit, and further stated that the man he 
saw running away corresponds as to height, 
wearing apparel, etc., to the defendant. 

“C,” who arrived somewhat later, testi¬ 
fies that he saw “A” and “B” present on 
the scene of the fire before the arrival of 
the engines. 

“D,” the watchman, who was suddenly 
taken sick that night, stated that after tele¬ 
phoning his employer to this effect and 
notifying the patrolman on post that the 
building would be unprotected, he went 
home. He also states that he is positive 
that every means of entrance was fastened 
against intrusion and that he and the ac¬ 
cused were the only persons who had the 
means of entrance to the building. 

“E,” who appears as a voluntary witness, 
says that a friend of his told him he saw 
the accused enter the building about ten 
minutes before the fire started. (This was 
after the departure of the watchman.) 


Specify the different kinds of evidence 
here given, point out the relevancy or ir¬ 
relevancy of the testimony of each witness 
and explain fully the value of the evidence 
ln es l^blishing the guilt of the accused. 

8. How would you guard against spon¬ 
taneous combustion in the following class 
of buildings or structures: (a) Stables, (b) 
engine houses; (c) piano manufactories; 
(d) planing mills; (e) .tailoring establish¬ 
ments. 

LAWS AND ORDINANCES. 

Weight 3. 

1. Explain the meaning of the following: 
(a) Fire stop; (b) non-bearing ball; (c) 
enclosing wall; (d) parapet wall; (e) cur¬ 
tain wall. 

2. Under what circumstances and condi¬ 
tions will a wholesale drug store be allowed 
to carry on its business in a six-story build¬ 
ing in the City of New York? 

3. Describe three provisions of the recent 
law relating to “fire prevention,” which you 
deem most important. 

4. Is a Fire Marshal authorized to enter 
any building or dwelling house where there 
has been no fire; and if so, when and under 
what circumstances? 

5. The employees of a large factory are 
upon “strike,” and one of them throws a 
bomb through a window into the factory 
building, and it explodes, setting fire to the 
building, which is burned. Is the offender 
guilty of arson, and if so, under what cir¬ 
cumstances would the crime charged be 
“First Degree”; “Second Degree”; “Third 
Degree”? 

REPORT. 

Weight 2. 

(To be finished by 4 P. M.) 

Write a report of about 250 words on the 
following topics: 

(a) The advisability of establishing a sys¬ 
tem of inquiry in case of all fires whether 
of incendiary origin or otherwise, for the 
purpose of ascertaining the cause and of 
fixing individual responsibility. 

(b) The necessity and importance of the 
Fire Department promptly responding to 
fires. 

(c) The value of the new Bureau recently 
established in the District Attorney’s office 
for the investigation and prosecution of 
persons who may be guilty of arson. 

(N. B.—Do not sign any name, number, 
initials or title to this report.) 

Municipal Civil Service Com’n, N. Y. 

ASST. FIRE MARSHAL, 

Fire Department. 

Date: December 31, 1901. 

1. (a) What are the duties of a Fire Mar¬ 
shal as defined by law? (b) What relation, 
if any, has he to the investigation and 
prosecution of crime? 

2. How would you go about to ascertain 


257 





the course of a fire? (a) Where the build¬ 
ing is totally destroyed? (b) Where it is 
only partially destroyed? 

3. (a) What is arson? (b) What is an 
incendiary? (c) Where you are instructed 
that a fire is of incendiary Origin, what 
course of proceedings, if any, would you 
take to prevent tampering with the evi¬ 
dence upon which you have based your 
complaint? 

4. (a) What is spontaneous combustion? 
(b) Name some material apart from chem¬ 
icals which is the frequent cause of fires 
due to spontaneous combustion in dwelling 
house fires. 

5. (a) Where you believe a fire to be of 
incendiary origin, what important consider¬ 
ation would guide you in fixing upon the 
guilty person? (b) May a Fire Marshal 
break into a building, and if so, under what 
circumstances? 

6. (a) How are fires classified with ref¬ 
erence to their causes in the Bureau of 
common causes of fires? (b) Give a list 
of common causes of fires; (c) State a cause 
not common. 


TAKING TESTIMONY AND REPORT 
WRITING. 

(NOTE:—The following testimonies tak¬ 
en by Assistant Fire Marshals, are from 
official records of the New York Fire De¬ 
partment, except for alteration of names.'' 

Statement of John Doe taken by Richard 
Roe, Assistant Fire Marshal, at Fourth 
Street Station House, Jan. 27th, 1911, at 
3.15 P. M. 

My name is John Doe. I am 24 years 
old. I am in this country eight years. 
About four weeks I have worked for John 
Jones. I received $7 a week. Tuesday, 
the day of the fire, I worked overtime. I 
was cutting linings and put them on the 
table on the side. A man by the name of 
David Crohn was another cutter; he went 
before me. I live at 234 Levy Avenue. I 
am going to move. On Jan. 24th, the day 
of the fire, I went down with the boss. 
The boss told me to go upstairs and close 
the windows. I went up and came down 
and then we two left together. The boss 
walked over to Evergreen Street with me. 
I am sure the boss locked the door and 
came out of the building with me and 
walked over to Evergreen Street; I with 
the boss. He was carrying a satchel. He 
told me he was going to be guest to the 
wedding. He left me at Duggan and Ever¬ 
green Streets. The last time I saw the 
boss was on Duggan Street. We walked 
two or three blocks. After 8 we left, it 
might be 8 or 8.30—I had no watch. I am 
sure we left together. He closed, and, I 
think, locked the door. When he came out 
the boss carried a satchel. He came down 
and I stood on the sidewalk. I did not 
see anyone around outside the building. 
We went then a few blocks on Duggan 
Street east. The first I knew of the fire 
was when I came back to work the next 
morning. The last the boss said was for 


me to get to work early to cut 200 suits. 
He told me he was going to invite people 
to the wedding; he was busy. 


Statement of A- B-, under arrest 

at the Fourth Street Station on the night of 
January 25th, 1911. Informed and in¬ 

structed as to his legal rights. 

My name is A- B-. I am 28 years 

old. I was born in Smolensk, Russia. I 
am nine years in this country. I am in 
business two years. I am in business for 
myself. I bought the business from C—— 
D-for $3,000, which was for the machi¬ 

nery only. I was working for my brother 
previous to taking the business on May 18, 

1910. C- D-ran the business for one 

year, and I was the manager. I paid only 
for the machinery. All else was sold be¬ 
fore. There is no mortgage on my busi¬ 
ness. I have one note outstanding against 
me for $500, held by the Garfield Bank. I 
owe $1,500 or $1,600; maybe more. 1 do 
business with the Garfield Bank. I have 
got about $1,000 in the bank. The firm 

was E- & F-. We dissolved about 

June 20. G-went into business for him¬ 

self. He paid nothing for going into the 
business and was paid nothing when going 
out. We have not as yet settled accounts. 


Statement of Policeman P. Q. taken by 
R. S., Assistant Fire Marshal, on Jan. 24th, 
at the Station House on Fourth Street. 

I left the Station House about 8.10 or 
8.15 and proceeded to go to my post. As 
I passed Duggan Street I heard some 
shouting in 39 and 41 Duggan Street, and 
ran into the building and up the stairs and 
into the second floor, and went into the 
room where I heard the shouting. I saw 
Officer T. U. and a man trying to extin¬ 
guish the fire. The man had a pail in his 
hand. He turned and made a move toward 
the door, and I followed him. As I was 
passing out behind him I saw a fire burning 
under a cutting table. I then took hold of 
him (the man) before he got out of the 
door and called his attention to the fire 
under the table. He made a statement to 
the efTect that he did not make the fire. I 
called to Patrolman T. U. to send in an 
alarm and told him I would hold the man 
under arrest. The man was very much ex¬ 
cited and I could hardly tell what he was 
shouting. 


Statement of Patrolman T. U., taken by 
R. S., Assistant Fire Marshal, on Jan. 24th, 
at 10 P. M., at the Station House on Fourth 
Street. 

My name is T. U. I am a patrolman at¬ 
tached to the 200th Precinct. On January 
24th I left the Station House at about 8.10 or 
8.15 P. M. and started for my post, which is 
Duggan Street and Harold Street. About 8.20 
I arrived at Duggan Street and started to try 
the doors. I tried the door of the building 
and found it locked. I then tried the door 
of the building at 39 Duggan Street and found 













it open. I opened the door. I wondered why 
the door was left open. I then stepped back 
to the curb and looked up at the building. I 
did not see any lights in the building or any¬ 
thing out of the ordinary. As I was looking 
up at the building, I saw a man coming out 
with a dress-suit case and proceed to lock 
the door. He turned to look over his shoul¬ 
der and saw me standing at the curb. When 
he saw me he bolted into the building and up 
the stairs yelling fire. I do not think he had 
time to unlock the door. I followed him and 
entered the loft with him, that is, directly after 
h l m /, ^e .r? shed ^ a place in the norW side 
of the building and threw water on a pile of 

i r .I ing Tu agS and paper> He tore d own the 
cloth. I here was cloth covering the clothing 

ii Gr j ^ re was - V. W. then came in and 
called my attention to another fire in the next 
room on the south side of the building. I 
then ran down to turn in the alarm and met 
Officer P. Q., who said he had turned in the 
alarm. 


OFFICIAL REPORT ON A TENEMENT 
HOUSE FIRE (1). 

. The following is a typical report of an As¬ 
sistant Fire Marshal after investigating the 
fire on which testimony was printed in the 
preceding issues. 

To the Fire Marshal: 

Sir:—I have the honor to submit the fol¬ 
lowing report of a fire investigated by me in 

a four-story brick tenement located at No.- 

East - Street. The name of the owner is 

H- I-• The damage to the structure 

was $280 and insurance on same is $21,000. 
The damage to the contents of the building 
was $2,000, and insurance on same $2,000. The 

fire originated in the tailor shop of A-• 

B-. In my estimation, the probable cause 

of fire was due to an electric short circuit. 
I visited the premises on the 4th day of Feb¬ 
ruary and found A- B- as occupant of 

premises where fire originated. The fire start¬ 
ed in the rear of the shop behind a partition 
and extended to the front and to the rear part 
of the second floor. There were remnants of 
20 suits of clothes, linings, etc., lying on the 
floor. There were no books of accounts that 
could be found on the premises. I interviewed 
the janitor of the house, Mrs. J- K- 


who stated that she saw Mr. A- 


B- 


leave the place about 25 minutes before the 
fire, that he. locked the door, and that she saw 
smoke coming out of the premises and gave 
the alarm. 

I interviewed Battalion Chief L. M., who 
stated that his men broke open the door and 
extinguished the fire, that the windows of the 
store were securely fastened from the inside, 
and his men opened them to ventilate the 
premises. I then interviewed the owner of the 

building, H—— I-, who stated that A- 

B- paid his rent promptly and was a ten¬ 
ant of his house for three years. Mr. H- 

I- stated that he was insured for $8,000 

and that he has carried insurance for about 
five years. He cannot account for the fire in 
the tailor shop and stated that according to 

his observations A- B—— was doing a 

good business. In the rubbish and debris I 


found an electric iron used for pressing 
clothes. The wire attached to the iron was 
burned and I traced it to the socket and found 
that the fuse had been melted. I also found 
a small can which Mr. A- B- said con¬ 
tained benzine. Mr. A- B- stated that 

he could not account for the fire. 

It is my opinion that Mr. A- B- 

carelessly left the current turned on the 
iron, and becoming hot it set fire to the 
table, and the can of benzine took fire, 
causing the entire rear partition of the store 
to catch fire. I have subpoenaed his jan- 
itress, the landlord, Chief of Battalion, 

A-B-and Patrolman N. O., who was 

on post, to appear before you to-morrow 
morning at 10 A. M. 

Respectfully submitted, 

RICHARD ROE, 
Assistant Fire Marshal. 


OFFICIAL REPORT ON A TENEMENT 
HOUSE FIRE (2). 

New York, Nov. 4, 1911. 

Fire Marshal, 

Fire Headquarters, 

New York. 

Sir:— 

I have the honor to submit the following 
report of an inspection made by me at prem¬ 
ises located at - Houston Street, Manhat¬ 

tan. 

The fire occurred on the 3rd inst., at 3 
P. M., at the above stated premises, and the 
alarm was sent in from box No. 345. The 
class of structure is a four-story brick tene¬ 
ment, and there are four tenants on each 
floor. The fire originated in the kitchen of 
Henry Klein, who occupies three rooms on 
second floor, back, west side. 

The fire was due to a flame from the stove 
which ignited drapery hanging from the man¬ 
telpiece. It extended to the curtains and some 
clothing. It was confined to the one room 
Mrs. Bertha Klein was burned cm the left 
hand while attempting to extinguish it. The 
occupants of the premises are residents of 
New York for four years, prior to which 
they came from Minsk, Russia. Henry Klein 
is a paperhanger and earns $15 a week. He 
stated that this was the first fire he ever had. 

The probable damage to the building is $100 
and the insurance on the building is $15,000. 
The damage to the contents of the room is 
about $50 and the insurance is $1,000. 

My opinion is that the fire was due to ac¬ 
cident. 

Respectfully submitted, 

RICHARD ROE, 
Asst. Fire Marshal. 


OFFICIAL REPORT ON SUSPICIOUS 
FIRE. 

New York, Nov. 15, 1911. 

Fire Marshal, 

Fire Headquarters. 

Sir :— 

I have the honor to submit the following 


259 
































report regarding an investigation made of a 

fire that occurred at the premises at - 

East Eighth Street: 

The fire occurred on Nov. 14th at 9.15 P. 
M., and the alarm box No. 989 was* sounded 
by a citizen. The structure in question is a 
five-story tenement house occupied by four 
families on each floor. The owner of build¬ 
ing is-, of- Street, Brooklyn. The 

damage to the structure was about $500, and 
the insurance on the building was $15,000. 
The damage to the contents of the room where 
the fire occurred was about $100 and there 
was $2,000 insurance. The fire occurred in 
the rooms of -. 

The cause has not been ascertained, but 

I believe it to be suspicious. Mrs. -- 

stated that she was tending the stove and then 

left to obtain meat at - butcher store, 

at-East-Street, and that she locked 

her door and went away. 

The fire was discovered about half an hour 

after Mrs. - went to the butcher store, 

and completely burned out her rooms. It ap¬ 
peared to have been a rapid, hot fire, and 
judging from appearances it was a gas or 

vapor fire. Mr. - has a coal and wood 

business at -- Street. After an examina¬ 

tion of the neighbors I learned that a strong 
smell of gas came from the rooms of Mrs. 

- just after she left the house. I called 

at the butcher store and the owner’s state¬ 
ments agreed, with those of Mrs. - re¬ 

garding the time she entered the store. 

I have subpoenaed all witnesses to appear 
before you on Nov. 16 at 10 A. M. for fur¬ 
ther examination. 

Respectfully submitted, 

RICHARD ROE, 
Asst. Fire Marshal. 


THREE FORMS OF INCENDIARISM. 

Incendiarism may be of three kinds, as fol¬ 
lows : 

1. Pyromania. 

2. Malicious Intent. 

3. Fraud. 

The first class of fires, made by pyromaniacs, 
is very prevalent and requires careful inves¬ 
tigation and persistent effort to detect and 
catch the pyromaniac at his infamous work. 
The motives of pyromaniacs are various. The 
motive may be to create excitement, to shine 
as a hero by giving the alarm and attempt¬ 
ing to rescue persons in the building; or as 
a messenger sent to destroy the wicked. As 
a rule, pyromaniacs display unusual cunning 
in planning their work, and were it not for 
the fact that the vast majority are ignorant 
and illiterate, great loss of life would occur. 
Their methods are crude and the fires are dis¬ 
covered before gaining headway. 

The most common method is to ignite rub¬ 
bish, paper, etc., in cellars and hallways. A 
pyromaniac usually works systematically, 
choosing certain hours, and has a regular in¬ 


terval of days between his operations, and he 
chooses various places for his activities. Py¬ 
romaniacs usually carry bottles of oil with 
them. 

These fires must be carefully investigated, 
the time of occurrence compared and similar¬ 
ity of conditions noted. The investigators 
must respond to the fires and observe the 
spectators, and especially those who show a 
strong desire and willingness to aid the fire¬ 
men. If a person is seen frequently at fires 
during the night, and has no business or rea¬ 
son to be there, and acts suspiciously, he 
should be watched and shadowed until an 
explanation is found for his movements. The 
conditions surrounding the fire must be noted 
carefully and the evidence kept. 

The pyromaniac may be caught by tracing 
to him the bottle of oil or whatever material 
was used. This can only be done by careful 
study, persistent effort in following up every 
thread of evidence, and will eventually result 
in the detection of the pyromaniac at his 
work. Pyromaniacs are usually defective both 
mentally and physically, which will aid in 
drawing the investigator’s attention to him. 
They, as a rule, appear to be about 19 or 20 
years of age, while the records show most of 
them to be past 25 years of age. 

The second class of incendiaries are more 
difficult to detect and rarely are caught. They 
resort to the use of explosives or highly in¬ 
flammable oils set off by a fuse. The person 
who destroys or sets fire to a building through 
revenge and malice plans carefully and surely. 

The explosive is left in its place, or the 
oil is carefully placed where it will do sure 
work. The explosion, or the rapid burning 
of the interior, is the first evidence that the 
fire is of incendiary origin. To detect incen¬ 
diary fires from this cause it is necessary to 
trace the motive and obtain evidence. 

The third class of incendiarism is the mak¬ 
ing of fires for the benefit that may be de¬ 
rived from the collection of the insurance 
money. These fires are caused in various 
ways, but one of the most common is the 
method of allowing a shut-up room to fill 
with gas from an open gas jet, and allowing 
a light to burn in the room, resulting in the 
ignition of the gas, causing an explosion. 

The first step to take in determining the 
cause of any fire is to try to find a motive 
for the fire. If the Assistant Fire Marshal 
is assigned to a case where the person in¬ 
volved is insured for an amount of money 
greater than the value of the destroyed con¬ 
tents, and if after investigation it has been 
found that the business of the person involved 
has not been on a paying basis or that the 
person is in debt, there is sufficient ground 
for suspicion as to the cause of the fire. The 
Assistant Fire Marshal should then proceed 
to obtain evidence to support a case of arson. 

Detective ability and precaution and shrewd¬ 
ness, are required in order to run down the 
criminals. Important evidence may be pro¬ 
cured from remnants that appear to be not 
worth noticing. 


260 
















N. Y. STATE FIRE MARSHAL BUREAU. 


Examination Questions for Insp. Fire Appliances, Advis¬ 
ory Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Examiner of Plans 
and Specifications and Chief Boiler Inspector. 


N. Y. State Civil Service Com’n. 

EXAM’R OF PLANS AND SPECIFICA¬ 
TIONS AND ADVISORY ENGINEER. 

Dept, of State Fire Marshal. 

Date: Dec. 7, 1912. 

PART I. 

1. What loading should be reckoned on in 
designing fire escapes? Compute the sizes of 
material needed for brackets supporting the 
balcony, 15 feet long and 30 inches wide, of 
an outside fire escape. 

Make a sketch of the balcony you have, in 
mind, showing the details of the connection 
of the balcony to a brick building. 

2. What, if any, differences would be made 
in the installation of fire escapes and stand¬ 
pipes in (a) apartment houses; (b) hotels; 
(c) tenements; (d) warehouses; (e) office 
buildings; (f) factories. 

3. Sketch a sprinkler system for a room 50 
ft. by 70 ft. Explain how the discharge from 
the individual sprinklers could be computed, 
and how the design can be so made as to. in¬ 
sure a practically uniform flow at all points. 
What devices are used on sprinkler systems 
to insure certainty of operation and to give 
alarm ? 

4. What conditions would demand the use 
of (a) wired glass; (b) screens protecting 
plain glass? How should such screens be 
placed? What are the essential features of 
an efficient wired glass window? Describe 
the construction of a skylight over a theater 
stage. What difference is made in the con¬ 
struction of a monitor or lantern skylight 
along the roof of a factory? 

5-6. Suppose one corner and several interior 
posts of a six-story brick tenement 60 ft. by 
100 ft. had settled to. an extent to bind doors 
and windows in their frames, and crack in¬ 
terior plastering. The building will be as¬ 
sumed to be supported on continuous outside 
footings and interior piers sunk 10 feet below 
the surface, resting on filled ground which 
extends to a depth of 30 feet at the sagged 
end of the building, but runs out at about 
the middle of the foundation. The natural 
material below and beyond the filled ground 
is a hard, compact clay. 

Describe a method of supporting the build¬ 
ing while permanent improvements are under 
way, the computations upon which a design 
for better footings would be based, the gen¬ 
eral arrangement of the new supports, and 
the inspection to be made after all was com¬ 
pleted, to make sure that the building was 
then in a safe condition. 


7. Compare the merits of (a) mill con¬ 
struction; (b) steel frame with wooden floors; 
(c) steel frame with terra cotta floors; (d) 
straight reinforced concrete construction, from 
the standpoints of strength, cost and fire-re¬ 
sisting qualities. 

8. Sketch a foundation for a water tank 
of 40,000 gallons capacity, supported on four 
steel posts on footings set on a soft, wet clay. 
The bottom of the tank is .60 feet above 
ground. Compute the dimensions of anchor 
bolts needed at the base. 

Describe a proper method of supporting 
such a tank if set on the roof of a six-story 
factory. 

9. For what locations and kinds of Struc¬ 
tures is it advisable to install protection against 
lightning? Describe in a general way the idea 
governing the number and location of conduc¬ 
tors and how they should be attached. 

10. How many gallons per minute could be 
delivered into a standpipe 100 feet above 
ground by a fire pump attached to a 20 horse¬ 
power engine, assuming that the water is de¬ 
livered to the pump under 10 pounds pressure? 

How would you determine whether the 
steam connection from a boiler were large 
enough to supply a fire pump, and whether 
the boiler would be adequate? 

PART II. 

(For Advisory Engineer Only.) 

1. What defects in the installation of tele¬ 
phone and lighting circuits in dwellings are 
responsible for most fires due to them? De¬ 
scribe several methods of installing wires and 
state in what character of installation you 
would use each method. 

2. What is balloon frame construction? Why 
is it considered undesirable to carry the weight 
of a tall building on a row of heavy granite 
pillars? What objections are there to the 
use of cast iron columns in buildings? Why 
are they sometimes favored? Has the amount 
of floor load or the quantity of material stored 
in a building any influence upon the fire risk? 
Explain your answer. 

3. Discuss the comparative merits of hol¬ 

low tile and metal lath on steel studding for 
partitions for office buildings. Describe the 
type of wooden floor and post construction 
known as mill construction. Explain its value 
as a good fire risk. . 

4. Define the repairs and alterations that 
might be made to a building without consult¬ 
ing the Municipal Bureau of Buildings. If 
the demolition of the building renders the 
party wall of an abutting structure unsafe, 
whose responsibility is it to maintain it, and 
what jurisdiction has the Bureau of Buildings 




in such cases? What inspection of the ma¬ 
terials and mixing of concrete should be 
made? In placing reinforced concrete col¬ 
umns in buildings, what special care should 
be taken? 

5. Give the greatest safe load, in pounds 
per square inch, in both tension and com¬ 
pression, on the following: Building brick; 
bluestone; cement; lime mortar; spruce, both 
along the grain and across it; structural steel; 
cast iron. 

6. Write a short specification covering the 
construction (including the framing) and 
hanging of a tin-clad fire-resisting door. 
Which would be preferable, a sliding tin-clad 
door or a swinging iron door? Why? 

What is fusible metal? Explain how it may 
be applied to operate automatic door-closing 
devices. 

7. Suppose a concrete tank showed leaks 
along horizontal cracks after completion. 
Would these be likely to affect its stability, 
and if so, how? What practice or precautions, 
observed during the construction of the tank, 
would avoid such results? 

Why are round iron bands preferred to flat 
bands or angles for use on wooden tanks ? 

Against what stresses would the staves of 
a wooden water tank be designed? 

8. Enumerate the various types of pumps 
used for fire pumps. How may the capacity 
of each type be approximately determined 
without actual test? 

What are the main points of difference in 
the design and construction of a fire pump 
and a pump installed for constant use? 

What objections are there to automatically 
controlled fire pumps? 

9. Describe the fire risk attending the use 
of the different forms of acetylene gas sys¬ 
tems; gasolene vapor lamps, and common il¬ 
luminating gas. 

Why should not a gas engine, located in 
the basement of a building, be permitted to 
exhaust into the chimney? 

Explain how the storage of a number of 
tanks of oxygen would affect the fire risk. 

What considerations should govern the lo¬ 
cation and installation of hot air flues? 

10. Show by sketch and description a meth¬ 
od of attaching a heavy sheet iron cornice 
to a brick building, and also some variations 
from good practice that are frequently met 
with, and explain the risk involved in their 
use. 


N. Y. State Civil Service Com’n. 

EXAMINER OF PLANS AND SPECI¬ 
FICATIONS. 

Dept, of State Fire Marshal. 

Date: Dec. 7, 1912. 

PART II. 

(For Examiner of Plans and Specifications 
Only.) 

1. What defects in the installation of tele¬ 
phone and lighting circuits in dwellings are 
responsible for most fires due to them? 


Describe several methods of installing wires 
and state in what character of installation you 
would use each method. 

2. What is balloon frame construction? 

Why is it considered undesirable to carry 

the weight of a tall building on a row of 
heavy granite pillars? 

What objections are there to the use of 
cast iron columns in buildings ? Why are they 
sometimes favored? 

Has the amount of floor load or the quan¬ 
tity of material stored in a building any in¬ 
fluence upon the fire risk? Explain your an¬ 
swer. 

3. Discuss the comparative merits of hol¬ 
low tile and metal lath on steel studding for 
partitions for office buildings. Describe the 
type of wooden floor and post construction 
known as mill construction. Explain its value 
as a good fire risk. 

4. Give two methods for determining the 
supporting value of a wooden pile. What 
is the maximum load generally allowed on 
wooden piles? What conditions would de¬ 
mand the use of a pile foundation? What 
should be looked into to determine whether 
wooden piles would form a permanent sup¬ 
port? Describe a common method of mak¬ 
ing and placing concrete piles. 

5. Give the greatest safe load, in pounds 
per square inch, in both tension and com¬ 
pression, on the following: Building brick; 
bluestone; cement; lime mortar; spruce! 
both along the grain and across it; struc¬ 
tural steel; castiron. 

6. Write a short specification covering 
the construction (including the framing) 

.hanging of a tin-clad fire-resisting door. 
Which would be preferable, a sliding tin- 
clad door or a swinging iron door? Why? 

What is fusible metal? Explain how it 
may be applied to operate automatic door¬ 
closing devices. 


'• suppose a concrete tank showed leaks 

?i? n ^ J honzontal c F acks after completion. 
Would these be likely to affect its sta¬ 
bility, and if so, how? What practice or 
precautions observed during the construc¬ 
tion of the tank would avoid such results? 

Why are round iron hoops preferred to 
flat bands or angles for use on wooden 
tanks? Against what stresses should the 
sta y es of a wooden water tank be designed? 

What determines the amount that rein¬ 
forcing rods in concrete tanks should be 
lapped? 

8. Compute the greatest safe uniform 
load on a steel girder of 20 ft. span, con¬ 
sisting of a 36 in. x in. web plate, with 
a top flange of two angles and a bottom 
flange of two 3H in. x 3H in. x H in. 
angles; 6 in. x 4 in. x y 2 in. 

9. Compute the necessary thickness of 

P t rom tlie bottom of a steel 

tank 40 ft. high and of 25 ft. diameter, as¬ 
suming that the joints are single-strapped 
double-riveted butt joints. 

10. Show by sketch and description a 
method of attaching a heavy sheet iron 
cornice to a brick building, and also some 

variations from good practice that are fre- 


2G2 



quently met with, and explain the risk in¬ 
volved in their use. 


N. Y. State Civil Service Corn’ll. 
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, 

Dep’t of State Fire Marshal. 

Date: Dec. 7, 1912. 

PART I. 

(N. B.—In answering the following ques¬ 
tions, use sketches to illustrate your an¬ 
swers wherever they may be conveniently 
used to make clear your meaning.) 

1. Describe the various kinds of insula¬ 
tion used on wires in interior wiring sys¬ 
tems. State the conditions under which it 
is permissible to use each kind of insulation. 

2. Describe the best method of grounding 
a system of wiring and lightning arresters. 
What are the reasons for grounding a three- 
wire D. C. system? What additional reason 
is there for grounding the wiring system 
supplied from step-down transformers? 

3. What determines the size of wire used 
in the various parts of a wiring system? 

4. Describe the various methods of in¬ 
stalling wires and state in what character 
of installations you would advise the use of 
each method. 

5. Describe methods and give formulas 
used in calculating voltage drop and energy 
loss in D. C. wiring systems. 

6. Describe methods and give formulas 
used in calculating voltage drop and energy 
loss in single phase and three-phase A. C. 
systems. 

7. State what you consider the proper 
method of installing a service. 

8. Describe the construction of a first- 
class switchboard and make sketch of 
switchboard, and type diagram of wiring, 
on the supposition that the switchboard is 
to control two 50 K. W. 110 V. D. C. com¬ 
pound-wound generators and twelve feeder 
circuits. Show all the appliances that you 
would specify. 

9. Describe the various types of fuses. 
At what points in a wiring system should 
they be installed? 

10. Describe and explain the action of cir¬ 
cuit breakers of the magnetic blow-out 
type. 

PART II. 

(N. B.—In answering the following ques¬ 
tions, use sketches to illustrate your an¬ 
swers wherever they may be conveniently 
used to make clear your meaning.) 

11. What is the National Electrical Code? 

12. Describe the various methods of ap¬ 
plying electrical energy to a three-wire 220- 
volt D. C. system. 

13. Make a sketch showing the essential 
parts of a D. C. motor starting box and a 
diagram of its connection to circuit. 

14. Describe the various methods of 


starting a polyphase motor, giving diagram 
ot connections. 

What would you consider a proper 
method of installing a 440-volt switch on a 
polyphase A. C. system in a factory? 

16. Describe the various kinds of incan¬ 
descent lamps in common use. Compare 
their various characteristics. 

17. Make a sketch showing the method 
of operating D. C. series arc lamps from 
A. C. constant potential circuits. 

18. Describe the various methods of test- 
mg insulation. Which method would you 
recommend for testing the insulation of a 
system of wiring for lighting and power? 

19. Describe method of testing the 
dielectric strength of insulation. 

20. What type of switch would you use 
on a 2,300-volt service and how would you 
prevent overload? 


N. Y. State Civil Service Com’n. 
INSPECTOR FIRE APPLIANCES, 
Dept, of State Fire Marshal. 

Date: Dec. 7, 1912. 

(N. B.—Answer the following questions 
on ruled white paper which will be fur¬ 
nished by the Examiners.) 

1. Suppose a system of pressure pipes 
with hose connections at each floor was to 
be installed in an existing hotel of fireproof 
construction. Describe the scheme of pip¬ 
ing to be employed and the manner of put¬ 
ting it in, and the devices to set the pump 
in motion when needed, if automatic, or to 
give alarm, if manually controlled. Is the 
pressure in such a system maintained at all 
times, and if so, how? 

2. Describe the construction of a sky¬ 
light over a theater stage. What differ¬ 
ence is made in the construction of a mon¬ 
itor or lantern skylight along the roof of 
a factory? 

3. What conditions would demand the 
use of (a) wired glass; (b) screens protect¬ 
ing plain glass? How should such screens 
be placed? 

Describe the essential features of an effi¬ 
cient wired glass window. 

4. Sketch a sprinkler system for a room 
50 x 70 feet. What devices are used on 
sprinkler systems to insure certainty of 
operation and to give alarm? 

What conditions require a dry-pipe 
sprinkler system? How does it operate? 

5. Describe the fire risk attending the 
use of various forms of gasoline vapor 
lamps; acetylene lamps, and common illum¬ 
inating gas. 

Outline some rules for the handling of 
gasoline in garages. 

Why should not a gas engine, located in 
the basement of a building, be permitted to 
exhaust into the chimney? 

6. What defects in the insulation of tele¬ 
phone and lighting systems in dwellings are 
responsible for most fires due to them? 


263 




7. What, if any, differences would be 
made in the installation of fire escapes and 
standpipes in apartment houses; hotels; ten¬ 
ements; warehouses; office buildings, and 
factories? 

8. Describe a proper method of attach¬ 
ing the balcony of a fire escape to the out¬ 
side of a brick building.. Describe also some 
improper ways of doing it. 

9. What considerations should govern the 
installation and location of hot-air flues? 

Explain how the storage of a number of 
tanks of oxygen would affect the fire risk. 

10. What is fusible metal? Explain how 
it may be applied to operate automatic door¬ 
closing devices. 

11. Would the existence or absence of an 
efficient fire brigade affect the require¬ 
ments as to extinguishers, fire doors, etc., 
in a factory? 

Has the amount of floor load or the 
quantity of material stored in a building 
any influence upon the fire risk? Explain 
your answers. 

12. Write a short specification covering 
the construction, including the framing and 
hanging of a tin-clad, fire-resisting door. 
Which would be preferable, a sliding tin- 
clad door or a swinging iron door? Why? 

13. Describe the apparatus, its location 
and method of operation, needed for a sys¬ 
tem of alarms actuated by a rise of tem¬ 
perature in any one of a number of rooms 
in a building. 

14. Describe the type of wooden floor and 
post construction known as mill construc¬ 
tion.. Explain its value as a good fire risk. 
What protection of stairways, elevator 
shafts, etc., is made in mill construction, to 
reduce the fire hazard? 

15. Describe a proper method of support¬ 
ing a wooden tank of 15,000 gallons capac¬ 
ity, set on the roof of a six-story factory. 

16. Enumerate the different sources of 
power used for fire pumps. Which is gen¬ 
erally considered the most reliable? 

How would you determine whether the 
steam connection from a boiler was large 
enough to supply a fire pump and whether 
the boiler would be adequate? 

17. What objections are there to auto¬ 
matically controlled fire pumps? 

What are the main points of difference in 
the construction of a fire Dump and an 
ordinary pump installed for constant use? 
Why are these changes made? 

18. How often should linen fire hose in 
hotels and factories be inspected? 

What is the principal cause of its dete¬ 
rioration? 

Of what importance are tests for elonga¬ 
tion of fire hose? 

19. For what locations and kinds of struc¬ 
tures is it advisable to install protection 
against lightning? 

Describe in a general way the idea gov¬ 
erning the number and location of con¬ 
ductors and how they should be attached. 

20. Describe the different types of hand 


fire extinguishers in common use, explain¬ 
ing their mode of operation. 

If required in a ten-story office building, 
say 40 x 80 feet, how many would be in¬ 
stalled, and where and how?. 

How is the pressure obtained in hand 
extinguishers? How are they recharged 
after emptying? What inspection, would 
show that they were loaded and in con¬ 
dition for use?- 


N. Y. State Civil Service Com’n. 
CHIEF BOILER INSPECTOR, 

Dep’t of State Fire Marshal. 

Date: Dec. 7, 1912. 

PART I. 

1. Describe what feeding arrangements 
you consider it advisable to instal in a 
plant of 800 boiler horsepower, located in 
the basement of an office building. 

2. What spare parts or equipment should 
be kept constantly on hand in a boiler plant 
of the above description? 

3. Sketch an arrangement of piping lead¬ 

ing from the boilers of the above mentioned 
plant to an engine room containing two 
300-horsepower engines and three smaller 
auxiliaries. Show the location and all 
valves and fittings between the boilers and 
engines. “ 

4. What interest has the Boiler Inspector 
for the State Fire Marshal in the character 
of construction or maintenance of buildings 
housing boiler plants? In the competence 
and conditions of employment of the stok¬ 
ers? 

5. Explain why a bumped or cambered 
end is considered better than a flat end 
sheet on the barrel of a boiler? What ad¬ 
vantages has the flat end? 

6. If a dirty and encrusted boiler were to 
be put under a hydrostatic test, should the 
pressure be applied before or after clean¬ 
ing, and why? If a leak at a joint devel¬ 
oped under test, would it be better to calk 
it while under pressure, or not? Why? 

7. Suppose an Inspector, going over a 
boiler plant, reported it in an unsafe con¬ 
dition, naming some particular faults. 
When the owner was called upon to make 
changes or repairs he produced an insur¬ 
ance company’s certificate approving the 
plant. What would you, if Chief Boiler In¬ 
spector, do in such a case? 

8. Describe the defects resulting from 
careless riveting and calking of boiler 
sheets. 

9.. What physical specifications or tests 
are put upon boiler plates? What difference 
is there in the metal for the shell; for tubes, 
and for rivets? 

10. What faults in management or equip¬ 
ment are most commonly met with in the 
case of (a) portable boilers for contractor’s 
hoisting engines; (b) threshing machines; 
(c) saw mills? 


264 



PART II. 

11-12. A return tubular boiler 42 inches 
diameter, with shell plates Vs in. thick, has 
lapped single riveted barrel joints with 
Va in. rivets set 2 inches c. to c., and single 
strap double-riveted butt joints, also in. 
rivets, V/ 2 in. pitch staggered, on the longi¬ 
tudinal seams. Compute the safe and the 
bursting pressure, finding in which direction 
the shell is weaker. 

13. What inspection should be made of an 
auxiliary oil burning attachment, used in 
a boiler plant in connection with coal 
grates? Is the State Fire Marshal con¬ 
cerned with the condition of the grates? 
Explain your answer. 

14. How are water glasses tested? What 
is the purpose of tell-tale holes in stay- 
bolts? 

15-16. What size duplex acting pump 
(water cylinder only) would be needed to 


feed a battery of three 200-horsepower boil¬ 
ers supplying a 500-horsepower engine, 
given that at the working pressure it re¬ 
quires 10 pounds of steam, theoretically, 
to generate one horsepower. Assume aver¬ 
age efficiencies and any other necessary 
data, to conform with good practice. 

17. What objection is there to leaving a 
number of tubes plugged in a return tubular 
boiler? 

18-20. Suppose a 500-horsepower water- 
tube boiler of well known make, in a central 
station, burst two weeks after an inspection 
and test by an Inspector of the State Fire 
Marshal, and an investigation were ordered. 
What information should be gathered, what 
inquiries made, and of whom, and what in¬ 
spection of the wreck? 

Write a formal report of such a supposed 
case, to the Chief Engineer for the State 
Fire Marshal. 


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON CAUSES OF FIRES. 


Ques. 1:—Define combustion. 

ANS.:—When a substance unites with 
the oxygen of the air, heat is produced. If 
this union is slow it is only noticed by a 
change in the appearance of the material. 
If this union with oxygen is rapid, it is no¬ 
ticed by the evolution of a great amount of 
heat and flame and generally smoke. If 
the union is very rapid, it is attended by the 
evolution of heat and light, and is accom¬ 
panied by a loud report. This is known as 
an explosion. Examples of the above are 
as follows: 

Slow oxidation or the union of substances 
with oxygen is shown by the rusting of 
iron. When a match is applied to any com¬ 
bustible material, a flame is readily seen 
and the heat is readily felt. This is ordinar¬ 
ily known as burning or rapid flaming com¬ 
bustion. When any form of combustion is 
confined there is a possibility of an explo¬ 
sion. This is due to the formation of gases 
which cannot escape readily. When cer¬ 
tain chemicals which are loosely combined 
are affected by some outside influence, such 
as concussion, electricity, heat, cold, etc., 
the particles of the materials disunite rap¬ 
idly and produce heat, gas, flame and noise. 
This is known as an explosion. 

Ques. 2 :—Define temperature. 

AN’S.:—Two bodies are said to be at the 
same temperature if, on being brought in 
contact with each other, neither body grows 
warmer. Temperature is a degree of heat 
in any substance as compared with a scale. 
In the centigrade scale zero degree repre¬ 
sents the temperature of freezing water, 
while 100 degrees is the temperature of 
boiling water. In the Fahrenheit scale they 
are 32 degrees and 212 degrees respectively. 
In order that any combustible may burn 


(that is, chemical action take place between 
the combustible and the oxygen of the air), 
it is necessary for the substance to be. first 
heated to a certain definite temperature. 
The temperature at which a combustible 
substance takes fire is known as the kind¬ 
ling temperature of that substance. 

Ques. 3:—What is a physical change? 

ANS.:—A physical change is a change in 
the size or shape of a material without af¬ 
fecting its qualities. 

Ques. 4:—What is a chemical change? 

ANS.:—Anything that will change the ap¬ 
pearance, shape or size and properties of a 
material so that it assumes new qualities is 
known as a chemical change. A chemical 
change may be brought about by the addi¬ 
tion of heat, electricity, light or chemical 
re-agents to a substance. When a material 
such as wood is heated it begins to get 
warm. Soon it becomes hot, still it looks 
the same as wood. Then it begins to dis¬ 
color, then it gets darker; soon it chars, 
and after smouldering for a short time it 
catches fire. This is one example of a chem¬ 
ical change, for the appearance as well as 
the nature of the wood has been changed. 
After it is burned it is no longer wood. 

Ques. 5:—What is meant by burning 

point? , . , 

ANS.:—The temperature at which a ma¬ 
terial will catch fire is known as its burn¬ 
ing point or its kindling point or its burn¬ 
ing temperature. 

Ques. 6:—Define flash point. 

ANS.:—Certain liquids are very volatile, 
that is, they give off particles from the sur¬ 
face in the form of vapor. If heat is ap- 






plied to the liquids this evaporation takes 
place more rapidly. If a spark or flame 
either from a fire or electrical appliance is 
brought in contact with the vapor it pro¬ 
duces a rapid flash or flame. Some vapors 
will not flash or ignite until they are heated 
to the proper temperature. The tempera¬ 
ture or point at which a volatile inflammable 
vapor will flash or ignite is known as the 
flash point for that particular liquid from 
which the vapor issues. 

Ques. 7:—Define inflammable. 

ANS.:—When a material burns readily 
upon the application of heat it is called 
inflammable. It is only combustible if it 
burns upon the application of a great 
amount of heat. Gasoline, kerosene, hy¬ 
drogen gases are inflammable. 

Ques. 8:—What is a volatile compound? 

ANS.:—Every substance sends off parti¬ 
cles of itself when exposed to the air. Sol¬ 
ids do this to a less degree than liquids. 
Gases are more subject to this process than 
liquids. Some liquids send off these par¬ 
ticles at a very rapid rate, so that if the ma¬ 
terial is left exposed to the air long enough 
it will all diffuse, or evaporate into the air. 
This property is known as evaporation, and 
substances which evaporate rapidly are 
called volatile compounds. This is mostly 
applied to liquids such as benzine, alcohol, 
etc. 

Ques. 9:—Define volatile inflammable 
compound. 

ANS.:—Every liquid on exposure to the 
air evaporates, that is, it sends off portions 
of itself which mix with the surrounding air 
and form a vapor with it. When the evap¬ 
oration takes place rapidly at the ordinary 
temperature of the air, we say the liquid is 
volatile. When a substance is readily set 
on fire, it is known as inflammable. If the 
vapor which comes off from a liquid is eas- 
ly set on fire, the liquid is classed as a vola¬ 
tile inflammable compound. 

Ques. 10:—Why does a fire go out? 

ANS.:—Whenever burning bodies are 
cooled below the kindling temperatures 
.they are extinguished. The chemical action 
which occasioned the appearance of light 
and heat will only commence when the 
proper temperature has been reached, and 
therefore when the temperature is reduced 
by cooling, the fire ceases. Water thrown 
upon a fire reduces the temperature, and 
that is one reason why the fire goes out. 
Another reason is that it envelops the 
flame and cuts off the supply of air which 
contains the oxygen necessary for combus¬ 
tion. Exclude the air from a fire and it 
will be put out. 

Ques. 11:—What is the “pyrometer of 
Guiseppe Tagliabue”? 

ANS.:—Guiseppe Tagliabue has invented 
an instrument known as a pyrometer or 
“fire measure,” which is used to determine 
the flash point and burning points of liquids, 


etc. It consists of a metal cylinder with 
openings at top and bottom. In the lower 
opening an alcohol lamp is placed, which 
heats the material to be tested. This mate¬ 
rial is placed in a glass cup inserted in the 
upper opening. A thermometer is also in¬ 
verted in this cup. A small metal hood is 
placed over the cup and this confines the 
vapors rising when the material is heated. 
A small opening in this metal hood permits 
the inserting of a glowing match stick at 
frequent intervals. The temperature is 
noted and the glowing match inserted. The 
first few attempts will bring no results, but 
as soon as the material in the cup is heated 
to the proper temperature a small flash will 
occur as the glowing match is inserted. The 
thermometer is read, and the temperature 
at which the vapors from the material 
ignite is known as the flash point or flashing 
temperature. 

Ques. 12:—Enumerate some of the more 
common causes of fires. 

ANS.:— Fires may be caused by (1) spon¬ 
taneous combustion; (2) matches; (3) de¬ 
fective flues and chimneys; (4) flying 
sparks; (5) stoves and stove piping; (6) 
rubbish; (7) electrical defects; (8) explo¬ 
sions; (9) volatile inflammable compounds 
and other petroleum products; (10) cigar¬ 
ettes, etc.; (11) gas and gas jets; (12) bon¬ 
fires; (13) ashes; (14) lamps; (15) com¬ 
bustible fires; (16) incendiarism, etc. 

Ques. 13:—What is spontaneous combus¬ 
tion? 

ANS.:—Spontaneous combustion is “the 
ignition of a body by the internal develop¬ 
ment of heat without the action of an exter¬ 
nal agent.” “The substance absorbs and 
condenses the air within its pores, then 
oxidation commences and raises the temper¬ 
ature, which, of course, increases the oxida¬ 
tion, and thus the process goes on with 
continually increasing rapidity until the 
mass bursts into flame.” 

Ques. 14:—Name some of the ways in 
which fires start from spontaneous combus¬ 
tion. 

ANS.:—Accumulations of oily waste, ref¬ 
use, etc., in confined spaces, matches when 
stored in warm places, celluloid while being 
worked, rubber shoddy, leakage of acids on 
furs, from vegetable fibres, fireworks, etc. 

Ques. 15:—How do matches start fires? 

ANS.:—By their careless use or handling, 
through the nibbling of rats or mice, by fric¬ 
tion or concussion, or high temperatures. 

Ques. 16:—How do fires start from flues 
and chimneys? 

ANS.:—By defective construction and 
poor materials. Heat or sparks reach ex¬ 
posed woodwork, when same are not prop¬ 
erly protected. By the accumulation of 
soot. 

Ques. 17:—From what sources do flying 
sparks start fires? 

ANS.:—-Open furnaces, foundries, loco¬ 
motives, bonfires, etc. 


266 


Ques. 18:—In what cases do stoves and 
stove piping start fires? 

ANS.:—Where same are located in close 
proximity to exposed woodwork that is not 
protected. By means of sparks and embers 
from open grates. 

Ques. 19:—How does rubbish start a fire? 

ANS.:—May act spontaneously or be as¬ 
sisted by sparks, or matches. 

Ques. 20:—What electrical defects will 
cause a fire? 

ANS.:—Poor insulation of wires, short 
circuits, sparks from arc lamps, electrolysis 
of gas mains, crossing of electric wires, 
loose connections, overheated wires carry¬ 
ing too much current, etc. 

Ques. 21:—Name some substances that 
are apt to cause an explosion or produce 
rapid flaming combustion, with a resulting 
fire? 

ANS.:—Dynamite, gunpowder, celluloid, 
gasoline, guncotton, collodion, acetylene 
gas, flour dust. 

Ques. 22:—How do fires start from vola¬ 
tile inflammable compounds and other pe¬ 
troleum products? 

ANS.:—A highly inflammable vapor is 
constantly present with these compounds, 
and forms explosive mixtures with air in 
certain proportions. A spark or light, even 
from an apparently remote source, will 
cause the mixture to explode. 

Ques. 23:—What care must be taken with 
tobacco compounds to prevent fires? 

ANS.:—Butts and remains of cigars, cig¬ 


arettes, etc., should not be thrown away in 
a careless manner, nor in places waiting for 
some source of heat to start a fire. 

Ques. 24:—When do gas and gas jets start 
fires? 

ANS.:—When same are not properly 
guarded, and curtains and other draperies 
are apt to be blown in their direction. 
Through a leak in the pipes and a spark or 
flame reaching the leak. 

Ques. 25:—In what way are bonfires a 
source of conflagrations? 

ANS.:—Through the carrying of sparks 
by a breeze to neighboring buildings and 
objects. 

Ques. 26:—When will ashes cause a fire? 

ANS.:—Through the placing of hot ashes 
and coals in non-fireproof receptacles, or 
throwing same away in a careless manner, 
close to combustible substances. 

Ques. 27:—How do lamps start fires? 

ANS.:—By improper handling, or placing 
near combustible material. Putting them 
on unstable surfaces, so that they are apt 
to fall, or shaking the lamp to see if any 
oil is left. 

Ques. 28:—How will fires start from com¬ 
bustible fibres? 

ANS.:—By spontaneous combustion, 
sparks, open lights, through the heat gen¬ 
erated by the friction of machinery. 

Ques. 29:—What is incendiarism? 

ANS.:—The malicious and wilful setting 
of fires. 


2(57 


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON INTERIOR FIRE- 
ALARM SYSTEMS AND FIRE DRILLS. 


Ques. 1:—What is an interior electric fire 
alarm system? 

ANS.:—A system of bells and gongs, 
electrically controlled, and so arranged that 
by “pulling” a box the gongs throughout 
the building will ring, 

Ques. 2:—What signal do the gongs give? 

ANS.:—When an alarm has been sent in 
from any one of the alarm boxes, all the 
gongs on the various floors will automat¬ 
ically sound the number indicating the floor 
from which the alarm was sent and repeat 
the signal at least four times. 

Ques. 3:—Describe briefly the require¬ 
ments for the fire alarm boxes. 

ANS.:—One or more boxes to be located 
on a floor in the natural path of escape 
from fire. To be of approved type and be 
operated by a lever or by breaking the glass. 
Each box to give a definite code of signals. 

Ques. 4:—Give briefly the requirements 
for the signaling devices. 

ANS.:—To be installed on each floor of 
building sufficient in number and efficiency 
to be plainly heard throughout the floor, 
above the noise of machinery and other 
sounds. To be of approved type. Move¬ 
ment enclosed in dustproof metal casing in¬ 
sulated from all current carrying parts. 

Ques. 5:—What sources of electrical en¬ 
ergy may be employed? 

ANS.:—1. Storage batteries in duplicate. 

2. Electric light or power system (public 
service or isolated plant) supplemented by 
a storage battery. 

3. Private (isolated) plant as preferred 
source, supplemented by energy from pub¬ 
lic service lines. 

4. Primary batteries in duplicate. 

FIRE DRILLS. 

Ques. 6:—What authority has the Fire 
Commissioner to order fire drills installed? 

ANS.:—The Fire Commissioner, in cases 
where provision is not otherwise made by 
law or ordinance, is empowered in his dis¬ 
cretion to require and compel the regular 
and periodical performance of a fire drill, 
including instruction and practice in the use 
of means of exit, alarm systems and fire 
prevention or extinguishing methods and 
equipment, in all buildings, structures, en¬ 
closures, vessels, places and premises where 
numbers of persons work, live or congre¬ 
gate in the City of New York, except tene¬ 
ment houses. 


N. B.:—The Labor Law provides for fire 
drills in factories. The requirements will 
be found in the Chronicle’s 1916 book, “Fire 
Prevention Examination Instruction.” 

Ques. 7:—Describe briefly the duties of 
private officers in a fire drill. 

ANS.:—CHIEF—Have full charge of 
drill and brigade, give signals and see that 
all officials and employees perform prop¬ 
erly. Designate the exits to be used, and 
direct Captain and Lieutenant to use such 
exit. 

DEPUTY CHIEF—Perform the duties 
of the Chief in the absence of the Chief. 

CAPTAIN—In charge of squad assigned. 
Lead same to exit in prompt and orderly 
manner, when given the signal, and out of 
the building. Keep same in line and in 
squad formation outside of building. Lead 
squad back and to work. 

LIEUTENANT—Performs duties of 
Captain when Captain is absent. 

STAIRWAY GUARDS—Proceed with 
squad to exit, open the doors, in the direc¬ 
tion of travel, and station themselves as 
designated. Must maintain silence among 
the employees, prevent crowding or push¬ 
ing. Assist the employees on the stair¬ 
way, keep the line at a steady pace. They 
will follow at the end of the squad, clos¬ 
ing doors behind them. 

SEARCHERS—Search all toilets, ward¬ 
robes and other portions of the floor for 
those who may be left behind, or are hid¬ 
ing, direct them to the exits, and assist 
those who may have fainted or are sick. 

FIRE BRIGADE—Use the fire appli¬ 
ances on the premises, under the direction 
of the Chief. 

FIRE ALARM MESSENGER—Proceed 
to nearest fire alarm box. Turn in alarm. 
ONLY IN CASE OF FIRE. 

Ques. 8:—You are inspecting a factory, 
relative to the organization of a fire drill. 
Enumerate some defects found. 

ANS.:—No searchers appointed. No one 
designated to properly send alarm from 
street box. No one designated to handle 
fire appliances. No proper order main¬ 
tained. The aisles are not clear. Signal 
given for drill is not sufficiently audibile. NO 
guards designated for top or bottom of 
stairway. Employees not familiar with dif¬ 
ferent exits. No proper record kept. 


268 


/ 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SPRINKLER SYS¬ 
TEMS. 


Ques. 1:—What is an automatic sprinkler 
system? 

ANS.:—An automatic sprinkler system is 
an arrangement of pipes, with sprinkler 
heads, so situated that a fire occurring in 
any part of a building will melt the fusible 
link attached to each head, which in turn 
automatically allows water to flow. 

Ques. 2:—Describe a sprinkler head. 

ANS.:—Small metal framework, having 
an opening about J4 inch in diameter. This 
opening is closed by a small disc, which 
is held in place by struts or levers. These 
levers are held together by a fusible solder, 
arranged to melt at a temperature of 155° 
F. There is also attached to the framework 
of the sprinkler a “distributor.” When a 
fire occurs, the temperature of 155° F. is 
soon reached, the solder melts, releasing 
the struts which hold the cap on the orifice. 
The water then flows and strikes against 
the “distributor” and is deflected over a 
certain area. Some sprinkler heads are ar¬ 
ranged to go off at higher temperatures and 
are used in those parts of the premises 
where there is heat above the normal tem¬ 
perature, as boiler rooms. The solder usu¬ 
ally consists of tin, lead, bismuth and cad¬ 
mium. 

Ques. 3:—Distinguish between a wet and 
dry system. 

ANS.:—In a wet system the water is con¬ 
tinually in the lines of pipe, ready to flow. 
In the dry system the water is not in the 
pipes, but when the link of the sprinkler 
head melts, air pressure is released which 
operates a dry pipe valve, and this in turn 
allows water to flow automatically. Dry 
systems are only installed in warehouses 
or in buildings where there is no heating 
system. In such buildings, if a wet sprink¬ 
ler system were installed, water may be apt 
to freeze in the pipes. 

Ques. 4:—Where may dry sprinkler sys¬ 
tems be installed? 

ANS.:—Dry sprinkler systems are to be 
installed in cellars and sub-cellars, and 
above grade floor only in buildings that are 
not heated. 

Ques. 5:—Where dry sprinkler equip¬ 
ments are installed, what other device is 
essential? .. 

ANS.:—An automatic alarm to notify hire 
Headquarters of the start of a fire. 

Ques. 6:—What are dry pipe valves? 

ANS.:—These are valves installed in dry 
sprinkler equipments, and by means of the 
air pressure in the system holding back 
the flow of water. When a sprinkler head 
goes off, allowing air to be released, the re¬ 
duced pressure causes the valve to trip, and 


the water flows through the system and 
out at the seat of the fire. 


GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

Ques. 7:—What must be filed and ap¬ 
proved before installing automatic sprink¬ 
lers? 

ANS.:—-Plans and specifications for auto¬ 
matic sprinkler systems must be submitted 
to Fire Department, and approved by said 
Department, before the construction or al¬ 
teration. Sprinkler heads, dry pipe valves 
and valve alarms must be approved by Fire 
Department. 

Ques. 8:—How should pipes and valves 
be arranged? 

ANS.:—All pipes and valves to be acces¬ 
sible at all times for inspection and repair. 
Must be as direct as possible. 

Ques. 9:—How should the joints be made 
up? 

ANS.:—All joints must be screw joints, 
made up with red lead, and be thoroughly 
watertight and tested to stand a pressure 
of at least three hundred (300) pounds to 
the square inch. 

Ques. 10:—What kind of pipes must be 
used? 

ANS.:—Wrought iron or steel and tested 
to stand a pressure of at least three hun¬ 
dred (300) pounds to the square inch. 

Ques. 11:—How should the lines be fas¬ 
tened? 

ANS.:—Lines must be securely fastened 
by heavy iron strap hangers fastened to 
floor beams; hangers are not to be more 
than six (6) feet apart. 

Ques. 12:—When may cast iron fittings 
be used? 

ANS.:—Cast iron fittings are. permitted 
where wet systems are used. 

Ques. 13:—Where should sprinkler head 
lines be cross-connected? 

ANS.:—Where there is more than one 
riser, cross-connection should be made at 
lower level with pipe of larger diameter 
than risers. 

Ques. 14:—Give the specifications for the 
risers. 

ANS.:—They must be wrought iron or 
steel and tested to stand a pressure of at 
least three hundred (300) pounds to the 
square inch. Must be securely fastened at 
all floors and lower level and connected to 
cross-connections to sprinkler lines at every 
floor; also, to tank on roof and outside 
Siamese connection at lower street level. 


269 



Risers should be not less than 4 inches in 
diameter. 

Ques. 15:—What kind of fittings may be 
used in dry valve sprinkler systems? 

ANS.:—Malleable iron fittings. 

VALVES. 

Ques. 16:—Where should check valves be 
placed? 

ANS.:—Check valves must be installed in 
upper and lower levels of risers. 

Ques. 17:—Where should controlling 
valves be placed? 

ANS.:—On all floor levels and securely 
strapped open. 

Ques. 18:—What are valve alarms? 

ANS.:—Valves which operate by the ac¬ 
tion of the flow of water and transmit an 
alarm. Thus, when a sprinkler head opens 
and water starts to flow, the valve 
alarm will operate and notify Headquarters 
that the sprinklers are working. 

LOCATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF 
HEADS. 

Ques. 19:—Where should sprinkler heads 
be located? 

ANS.:—Sprinkler heads must be placed 
not less than three (3) nor more than six 
(6) inches below the ceiling (except when 
otherwise modified), and be arranged so 
as to cover every square foot of floor area, 
offsets, stairways, vaults and extensions in¬ 
cluded, when heads are in operation. 

Ques. 20:—What is the arrangement to 
be followed for the heads? 

ANS.:—In spaces 25 feet in width, should 
be installed two (2) lines of sprinklers, and 
for every additional twelve (12) feet or 
fraction thereof, an additional line of sprink¬ 
ler heads should be installed. Where there 
are more than one line of sprinkler heads, 
the arrangement of heads should be as fol¬ 
lows: Starting from either side, the first 
head from wall at end of line, to be two 
(2) feet from wall; then, on the second 
line, starting from end of line, the first 
head to be four (4) feet from wall; on the 
third line, two (2) feet from wall, and on 
the fourth line, four (4) feet from wall, 
etc. Sprinkler heads should be placed eight 
(8) feet apart and staggered. 

Ques. 21:—Give a schedule showing num¬ 
ber of heads allowed on various dimensions 
of pipes. 

ANS.:— fa-inch, 1 head; 1-inch, 2 heads; 
l>4-inch, 3 heads; l*4-inch, 5 heads, 2-inch, 
10 heads; 2k2-inch, 20 heads; 3-inch, 36 
heads; 3j4-inch, 55 heads; 4-inch, 80 heads; 
5-inch, 140 heads; 6-inch, 200 heads. 

WATER SUPPLIES. 

Ques. 22:—How are sprinkler systems 
supplied with water? 

ANS.:—By gravity tanks, pressure tanks, 
by direct supply from street mains if pres 


sure is found sufficient at all times, by Fire 
Department apparatus through Siamese con¬ 
nections. 

Ques. 23:—What are the specifications for 
the gravity tanks? 

ANS.:—They must be placed on roof 
at least twenty (20) feet above highest 
sprinkler head and have a capacity of not 
less than five thousand (5,000) gallons. Be 
supplied by a separate feed line and not to 
be used for any other purpose. Be con¬ 
structed of wood or steel with trap door in 
cover and iron ladder placed on side. Steam 
coils or other means to be provided to keep 
water in tank from freezing. A valve with 
an outlet at least four (4) inches in diam¬ 
eter to be placed under tank or tanks and 
known as the “Quick Emptying Valve.” A 
pipe with a diameter not less than lfa 
inches to be placed at upper level of tank 
or tanks, known as the “Over-flow pipe.” 

Ques. 24:—What are the requirements for 
pressure tanks? 

ANS.:—Pressure tanks are arranged so as 
to be two-thirds full of water, and one-third 
full of air under pressure. They should not 
be located below upper story of building. 
They are constructed of steel, filled with 
water by means of a pump, while the air 
pressure is maintained by an air compres¬ 
sor. Gauges to show the pressure and the 
amount of water in the tank are attached. 
The capacity of the tank will vary according 
to the conditions, but should never be less 
than 4,500 gallons, except by special permis¬ 
sion. The air pressure to be maintained 
(not less than 75 pounds) such as will give 
not less than 15 pounds pressure on highest 
line of sprinklers when all water has been 
discharged from tank. 

Ques. 25:—What are the requirements for 
Siamese connections? 

ANS.:—A sufficient number of outside 
Siamese connections must be provided, 
placed at street fronts of building or build¬ 
ings, at least eighteen (18) inches above 
curb level with connections for hose in a 
horizontal position. Hose connections to be 
three (3) inches in diameter and have caps 
when not in use. Sign placed over each 
Siamese to read: SPRINKLERS IN CEL¬ 
LAR, SPRINKLERS IN SUB-CELLAR, 
SPRINKLERS IN CELLAR AND SUB- 
CELLAR or SPRINKLERS IN BUILD¬ 
ING. 

Ques. 26:—How must the pumps work? 

ANS.:—By electric or steam power. 

DRY SPRINKLER EQUIPMENT FOR 
CELLAR. 

Ques. 27:—How must sprinkler heads in 
cellar equipments be placed? 

ANS.:.—A separate and distinct system of 
automatic sprinklers, with fusible plugs ap¬ 
proved by the Fire Department, shall be 
placed on the ceiling of cellar floor (to 
cover cellar) at such intervals and hung in 


270 


such manner as will protect every square 
foot of floor surface when said sprinklers 
are in operation. 

They shall also be placed where prac¬ 
ticable in all offsets, rooms and other places 
where deemed necessary. 

Ques. 28:—What connection to the equip¬ 
ment must be provided for use by the Fire 
Department? 

ANS.:—The entire system to be connect¬ 
ed to approved two-way 3-inch Siamese 
connections placed on outside of building in 
a position accessible for use by the Fire De¬ 
partment. 

Ques. 29:—How should the Siamese con¬ 
nections be designated? 

ANS.:—By proper sign, as SPRINK¬ 
LERS IN CELLAR. 

Ques. 80:—What fittings should be used? 

ANS.:—All fittings should be of malleable 
iron. 

Ques. 81:—What sources of supply are 
permitted, besides the above? 

ANS.:—Service from tanks or street 
mains, if circumstances warrant and pres¬ 
sures are adequate. 

Ques. 32:—What means of water con¬ 
trol must be provided where dry sprinkler 
equipments are installed on more than one 
floor in a building? 


ANS.:—Approved means for controlling 
the distribution of water in the interior of 
such building. Said means of control shall 
be located in an approved enclosure on the 
first story of said building. Said enclosure 
shall have a door opening to it from the 
front of the building upon which shall ap¬ 
pear the words “SPRINKLER SYSTEM 
CONTROL” in raised letters not less than 
2 inches in height, and said door shall be 
not less than 3 feet nor more than 6 feet 
from the sidewalk level, and said door shall 
be kept locked when not in use. The lock 
upon said door to be one which can be 
opened with the regulation firebox key. All 
plans and specifications for dry sprinkler 
equipments shall provide for water control. 

Ques. 33:—What are “open” sprinklers? 

ANS.:—These are sprinklers located on 
the outside of a building connected by pipes 
and placed over doors or windows at the 
eaves, cornices, etc., and so arranged as to 
form a water curtain when in use and pro¬ 
tect the building from exterior hazards. 
When there is a fire in an adjoining build¬ 
ing, a supply of water is turned on, and the 
water flows through these open heads, pro¬ 
tecting the building from the fire by a sheet 
of water. The heads can be supplied with 
water either by the Fire Department ap¬ 
paratus, through Siamese connections, or a 
regular source of supply can be provided, 
operated through the turning of a valve. 


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON MISCEL1 ANEOUS 

FIRE APPLIANCES. 


FIRE BUCKETS. 

Ques. 1:—What are the specifications for 

fire buckets? , 

ANS.:—They must be metal, of 10- 
quart capacity, placed on permanent shelves, 
hooks or racks, elevated not less than two 
(2) feet or more than 4^2 feet above the 
floor To be painted red and marked Fire 
with letters not less than 2^4 inches in 
height, kept full of clean water and inspect¬ 
ed once a week. 

Ques. 2:—How many fire buckets are re¬ 
quired according to floor space? 

ANS.:—There shall be six (6) fire buck¬ 
ets of the pattern approved by the Fire De¬ 
partment for each twenty-five hundred (A- 
500) square feet of floor space, except 
where unusual conditions prevail regarding 
combustible materials. 

Ques. 3:—When extinguishers replace fire 
buckets, how many buckets will each ex¬ 
tinguisher replace? . , f 

ANS.:—One 3-gallon fire extinguisher of 
pattern approved by the Fire Department 
may be substituted in place of and instead 


of six (6) fire buckets, but in no case can 
more than one-half the required number of 
buckets be replaced by extinguishers. 

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. 

Ques. 4:—Describe briefly what a 3-gal¬ 
lon chemical fire extinguisher consists of. 

ANS.:—This is a device consisting of a 
copper tank containing water with bicar¬ 
bonate of soda in solution, while in a sep¬ 
arate glass container is placed sulphuric 
acid. The tank operates by overturning 
when the sulphuric acid is released, fed 
gradually, and reacts with the bicarbonate 
of soda, generating carbonic acid gas under 
pressure. The pressure forces the water 
through a small hose, along with the car¬ 
bonic acid gas. The combination extin¬ 
guishes the fire. Capacity of the extin¬ 
guisher must be 3 gallons, and contain 2, l / 2 
gallons of liquid. 

Ques. 5:—How should extinguishers be 
placed? 

ANS.:—On shelves, brackets or hooks, 
not lower than two feet above the floor, 
measured from floor to bottom of extin- 


271 




guisher, and not higher than 5 feet from 
floor, measured from floor to top of extin¬ 
guishers. When hooks are used, the ex¬ 
tinguisher must also be supported at the 
bottom. Extinguishers should not be placed 
on the floor, or window sills, desks, etc. 
They should be located near exits and in 
the line of travel towards exits, as at stair¬ 
ways, fire escapes, etc. Also in close prox¬ 
imity to places where fire is apt to start. 
They should not be obstructed in any way. 

Ques. 6:—How should the fire extin¬ 
guisher be used? 

ANS.:—Carried to the fire right end up. 
Should then be tipped upside down not too 
suddenly. To shut off, turn the extinguisher 
to original position. Direct the stream at 
the lowest part of a fire and work upward. 

Ques. 7:—Describe the action of chemical 
extinguishers of about 1-quart capacity. 

ANS.:—There are several forms in use, 
some using the principle of a pump, others 
using pressure devices to propel the charge. 
In either case, the chemical fire extinguish¬ 
ing agent is forced to the seat of the fire 
and extinguishes the fire. Carbon tetrachlo¬ 
ride is one of the principal ingredients of 
the chemical solution. 


HOOKS, AXES, ETC. 

Ques. 8:—What are the requirements for 
fire hooks? 

ANS.:—They should be at least six (6) 
feet in length, and of Fire Department pat¬ 
tern. 

Ques. 9:—What are the requirements for 
fire axes? 

ANS.:—They must be four (4) pounds in 
weight and have a flat head. 

Ques. 10:—Give the requirements for rope 
fire escapes. 

ANS.:—They must be placed in every 
room used for sleeping purposes from which 
there is no direct access to outside fire es¬ 
capes. Ropes to be tested to stand weight 
of at least one thousand (1,000) pounds and 
to be of sufficient length to reach the 
ground. 

Ques. 11:—Give the specifications for 
signs and lights. Where should they be 
placed? v 

ANS.:—Signs with letters not less than 
eight (8) inches in height, to read “Exit.” 
Signs to be illuminated at night with lights 
having red globes. Location of above, in 
hospitals, asylums, hotels, etc., in hallways, 
showing locations of stairs, fire escapes, 
etc.; in theatres and places of amusement, 
over exits. 


Ques. 12:—What are bucket tanks? 

ANS.:—These are tanks containing pails 
immersed in water. The pails sit one in¬ 
side the other. From 4 to 6 pails come in 
each tank, and each bucket tank is equiva¬ 
lent to the number of pails it contains, when 
figuring the number of buckets required to 
a floor. 

Ques. 13:—What are water casks? 

ANS.:—These are oak barrels containing 
50 gallons of water. They should be desig¬ 
nated for fire purposes only and should be 
so marked in letters at least 6 inches high. 
Each cask must be provided with a cover 
having a handle. Each cask will be equiv¬ 
alent to 6 water buckets, when figuring the 
number of buckets required to a floor, pro¬ 
vided that there are placed near the casks 
3 fire pails, resting on hooks or shelf. 

Ques. 14:—What should diagrams show, 
and where must they be placed? 

ANS.:—Sign with diagram printed there¬ 
on must show location of exits, hallways, 
passageways, stairs, fire escapes, etc. In 
hotels, lodging houses, etc., must be placed 
in rooms. In theatres and places of amuse¬ 
ment on programs. 

Ques. 15:—What is an automatic fire 
alarm? 

ANS.:—Signalling device, arranged to 
operate automatically by the action of heat, 
and notifying a central office, which notifies 
the Fire Department of the fire. Such de¬ 
vices are the thermostat, the fire detecting 
wire, or an air bell arrangement. The basic 
principle upon which these devices operate 
is expansion of either metal or air caused 
by the generation of heat. Said expansion 
causes electrical circuits to be completed 
and the alarm to be rung. In some ther¬ 
mostats, heat causes a melting of solder, 
part of the attachment, and the operation 
sets in motion mechanism which transmits 
the alarm. 

Ques. 16:—What are time detectors? 

ANS.:—These are devices used to record 
the movements of watchmen about the 
building. Such devices may be either port¬ 
able or stationary. In making his tour, the 
watchman visits certain stations, and at 
each station a mark is made on the record¬ 
ing apparatus, which shows the exact time 
that the watchman was there. The purpose 
of such devices is to control the movements 
of the watchman, and to see that all parts 
of the premises are visited at stated inter¬ 
vals. The apparatus may consist of port¬ 
able clocks or stationary clocks and oper¬ 
ated by keys which register distinctive no¬ 
tations. In some systems, arrangements 
are made to notify a central headquarters 
of the watchman’s movements, by special 
signals. 


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON DEFINITIONS OF 

BUILDING TERMS. 


Ques. 1:—What is an apartment house? 

ANS.:—Every building which shall be 
intended or designed for, or used as, the 
home or residence of 3 or more families or 
households, living independently of each 
other, and in which every such family or 
household shall have provided for it a kitch¬ 
en, set bathtub and water closet, separate 
and apart from any other. 

Ques. 2:—What is a frame building? 

ANS.:—A building or structure of which 
the exterior walls or a portion thereof shall 
be constructed of wood. Buildings sheathed 
with boards, and partially or entirely cov¬ 
ered with 4 inches of brickwork, shall be 
deemed to be frame buildings. Wood frames 
covered with metal shall be deemed to be 
wood structures. 

Ques. 3:—What is considered the dead 
load of a building? 

ANS.:—The action weight of walls, floors, 
roofs, partitions and all permanent con¬ 
struction. 

Ques. 4:—What are live or variable loads? 

ANS.:—All loads other than dead loads. 

Ques. 5:—What are the foundation walls 
of a building? 

ANS.:—Foundation walls shall be con¬ 
strued to include all walls and piers built 
below the curb level or nearest tier of 
beams to the curb, to serve as supports for 
walls, piers, columns, girders, posts or 
beams. 

Ques. 6:—How are the heights of build¬ 
ings and walls determined? 

ANS.:—The height of a building shall be 
measured, in case the roof be flat, from the 
curb level at the center of the front of the 
building to the top of the highest point of 
the roof beams; for high-pitched roofs the 
average of the height of the gable shall be 
taken as the highest point of the building. In 
case a wall is carried on iron or steel girders 
or iron or steel girders and columns, or piers 
of masonry, the measurements as to its 
height, may be taken from the top of such 
girder. When the walls of a structure do not 
adjoin the street, then the average level for 
the ground adjoining the walls may be taken 
instead of the street curb level for the height 
of such structure. 

Ques. 7:—Define a hotel. 

ANS.:—Any building, or part thereof, in¬ 
tended, designed or used for supplying food 
and shelter to residents or guests, and hav¬ 
ing a general public dining room or cafe, 
or both, and containing also more than 15 
sleeping rooms above the first story. 

Ques. 8:—What is an office building? 

ANS.:—Any building divided into rooms 
above the first story, and intended and used 


for business purposes, no part of which shall 
be used for living purposes, except for the 
janitor thereof and his family. Office build¬ 
ings when not on a corner shall not cover more 
than 90 per cent, of the lot area at and above 
the second story floor level. 

Ques. 9:—Define a private dwelling. 

ANS.:—Any building which shall be in¬ 
tended or designed for, or used as, the home 
or residence of not more than 2 separate and 
distinct families or households, and in which 
not more than 15 rooms shall be used for the 
accommodation of boarders, and no part of 
which structure is used as a store or for any 
business purpose. Two or more such dwell¬ 
ings may be connected on each story when 
used for boarding purposes, provided the halls 
and stairs of each house shall be left unal¬ 
tered. Any such building hereafter erected 
shall not cover more than 90 per cent, of the 
lot area. 

Ques. 10:—What are the dimensions of a 
building? 

ANS.:—The greatest linear dimension of 
any building shall be considered its length and 
the next greatest linear dimension its width. 

Ques. 11:—Under what conditions may a 
building be altered or removed? 

ANS.:—No wall, structure or part there¬ 
of, may be built or constructed, nor may the 
plumbing or drainage of any building or prem¬ 
ises be constructed or altered in the City of 
New York except in conformity with the pro¬ 
visions of the building code. No building al¬ 
ready erected or to be built in this city may 
be raised, altered, removed or built upon in 
any manner that would be in violation of the 
building code, or the approval of the Superin¬ 
tendent of Buildings having jurisdiction. 

Ques. 12:—What is a tenement house? 

ANS.:—Any house or building, or any por¬ 
tion thereof built for the purpose of contain¬ 
ing three families or more living independently 
of each other—each doing their own cooking 
on the premises. 

Ques. 13:—Distinguish between a base¬ 
ment and a cellar. 

ANS.:—A basement is a story not more 
than one-half the height of which is below 
the curb level, while a cellar is a story more 
than one-half the height of which is below 
the curb level. 

Ques. 14:—What is a yard? 

ANS.:—An open unoccupied space on same 
lot with a building between the rear building 
line and rear lot line. 

Ques. 15:—What is a court? 

ANS.:—An open unoccupied space other 
than a yard. 


273 





Ques. 16:—What is an inner court? 

ANS.:—A court hot extending to the street 
or yard. 

Ques. 17:—What is an outer court? 

ANS.:—A court extending to the street or 
yard. 

Ques. 18:—What is a yard court? 

ANS.:—A court extending to the yard. 

Ques. 19:—What is a street court? 

ANS.:—A court extending to the street. 

Ques. 20:—Give two kinds of inner courts. 

ANS.:—Court on the lot line, and the other 
a court entirely surrounded by walls. 

Ques. 21:—What is a shaft? 

ANS.:—An open space throughout the build¬ 
ing and used for light, ventilation, elevator or 
dumbwaiter. 

Ques. 22:—-What is reinforced concrete? 

ANS.:—This is concrete to which has been 
added steel bars of various shapes and sizes 
to give greater strength. 

Ques. 23:—What is brick? 

ANS.:—A shaped mass of clay, burned hard 
in a kiln, and used in building construction. 

Ques. 24:—What is concrete? 

ANS.:—Concrete consists of a mortar in 
which is embedded broken stone, gravel, or 
some other hard material. The broken stone, 
gravel, etc., is known as the “aggregate.” The 
entire mass when solidified forms an artificial 
stone of great strength. 

Ques. 25:—What is wired glass? 

ANS.:—A glass in the manufacture of 
which a wire netting is embedded. 

Ques. 26:—What is asbestos? 

ANS.:—A fibrous mineral, somewhat re¬ 
sembling flax, and having great fire resisting 
properties. 

Ques. 27:—What is stone? 

ANS.:—A natural mineral product of con¬ 
siderable hardness. 

Ques. 28:—What is a sleeper? 

ANS.:—A piece of timber used to support 
the joists of a floor. 

Ques. 29:—-What is a stud? 

ANS.:—A supporting post to which are 
nailed the laths in erecting a partition. When 
several studs are together they are known as 
“studding.” 

Ques. 30:—-What are laths? 

ANS.:—Thin strips of wood. 

Ques. 81:—What is furring? 

ANS.:—Thin strips of wood used to obtain 
a level surface for boarding, lathing, etc. 

Ques. 32:—What is a “lintel”? 

ANS.:—The head piece across the top of a 
door or window. 


Ques. 33:—What is meant by “stag¬ 
gered”? 

ANS.:—To arrange articles in rows so that 
each article is directly opposite the center of 
the distance between the articles in the next 
row. 

Ques. 34:—What are uprights? 

ANS.:—These are timbers in a vertical po¬ 
sition. 

Ques. 35:—What are angle irons? 

ANS.:—Irons arranged in the form of an 
angle. 

Ques. 36:—What is a scuttle? 

ANS.:—A square hole in roof with a mov¬ 
able cover. 

Ques. 37:—What is a bulkhead? 

ANS.:—A structure or partition opening on 
roof of a building. (Also used to signify any 
partition.) 

Ques. 38:—What is a floor light? 

ANS.:—Window transmitting light through 
a floor. 

Ques. 39:—What is a skylight? 

ANS.:—Window transmitting light through 
top or roof of a building. 

Ques. 40:—What is meant by “corbel¬ 
ing”? 

ANS.:—To form a projection from.a wall 
to give support to any mass. In case of a 
chimney, arranging the bricks in the form of 
steps to support a load. 

Ques. 41:—What is meant by parging? 

ANS.:—Refers to act of lining a chimney 
flue with a rough plaster usually composed of 
lime, hair and cowdung. 

Ques. 42:—What is a hearth? 

ANS.:—The stonework, etc., placed in front 
of a fireplace and generally on a level with the 
floor. 

Ques. 43:—What is a chimney breast? 

ANS.:—The face or front of the chimney 
and resting on the hearth. 

Ques. 44:—What is a mantel? 

ANS.:—The horizontal shelf or slab over 
the fireplace and above the chimney breast. 

Ques. 45:—What is a trimmer-arch? 

ANS.:—The arch between trimmer-beams 
used to support the hearth of a chimney. 

Ques. 46:—What is a trimmer-beam? 

ANS.:—A floor beam run from a wall and 
supporting the ends of a joist or rafter. Usu¬ 
ally refers to nearest beam to chimney breast 
and used to support the trimmer-arch. 

Ques. 47:—What are “battens” in a fire 
escape? 

ANS.:—The “battens” are the strips of iron 
to which are riveted the floor slats of the bal¬ 
conies. 


274 


Ques. 48 :— What is a “tread”? 

ANS.: A <<tre ^” a stairway is the up¬ 
per flat portion of the step on which the foot 
rests. 


AM<?'. 4 Tr W ? lat !, s * he : rise ” in the step? 
ANS.. The rise is the vertical portion 
of the step. 


Ques. 50:—What is a “rung”? 

A NS.:-A “rung” is a round of a ladder up¬ 
on which the foot rests. 

Ques. 51:—What are “standards” or “fill¬ 
ing-in-bars”? 

• AN ?';T, h< r se are bars in a vertical posi¬ 
tion that nil in the space between the lower 
and upper rails of a balcony. 

Ques. 52:—What is a “goose-neck lad¬ 
der ? 

AN^S.: A ‘ goose-neck ladder” of a fire es¬ 
cape is one so arranged that the upper end 
is curved in the shape of a goose-neck. 

Ques. 53:—What is meant by the 
“Strings”? 

ANS.:—These are strips of iron set on edge 
to which are attached the treads and steps of 
a stairway or the rungs of a ladder. 


Ques. 54:—What are the “brackets”? 

ANS.:—These are iron bar forms used to 
support the balconies or stairways of fire es¬ 
capes. The balconies, etc., rest on the long 
side of this form while the short side is fas¬ 
tened to the wall itself. 


Ques. 55:—What is a factory as defined 
by the Labor Law? 

ANS.:—The term “factory” shall be con¬ 
strued to include any mill, workshop, or other 
manufacturing or business establishment and 
all buildings, sheds, structures or other places 
used for or in connection therewith, where 
one or more persons are employed at labor, 
except dry dock plants engaged in making re¬ 
pairs to ships, and except power houses, gen¬ 
erating plants, barns, storage houses, sheds 
and other structures owned or operated by a 
public service corporation, other than con¬ 
struction or repair shops, subject to the jur¬ 
isdiction of the Public Service Commission 
under the Public Service Commissions Law. 


Ques. 56:—What is a factory building? 

Al t S ’:—? be term “factory building” means 
any building, shed or structure which, or any 
part of which, is occupied by or used for a 
factory. 

Ques. 57:—What is a mercantile establish¬ 
ment? 

ANS.:—The term “mercantile establish¬ 
ment” means any place where goods, wares or 
merchandise are offered for sale. 

Ques. 58:—What is a tenant-factory? 

ANS.:—A tenant-factory within the mean¬ 
ing of the term as used in this Chapter is a 
building, separate parts of which are occu¬ 
pied and used by different persons, companies 
or corporations, and one or more of which 
parts is so used as to constitute in law a fac¬ 
tory. 

Ques. 59:—What is a slow-burning or 
mill constructed building? 

ANS.:—(As defined by the late Edward 
Atkinson and published in J. K. Freitag’s “Fire 
Prevention and Fire Protection”) : 

“l. Mill construction consists in so dis¬ 
posing the timber and plank in heavy solid 
masses as to expose the least number of cor¬ 
ners or ignitable projections to fire, to the end 
also that when fire occurs it may be most read¬ 
ily reached by water from sprinklers or hose. 

“2. It consists in separating every floor 
from every other floor by incombustible stops 
—by automatic hatchways, by encasing stair¬ 
ways either in brick or other incombustible 
partitions;—so that a fire shall be retarded in 
passing from floor to floor to the utmost that 
is consistent with the use of wood or any mate¬ 
rial in construction that is not absolutely fire¬ 
proof. 

“3. It consists in guarding the ceilings over 
all specially hazardous stock or processes with 
fire-retardent material, such as plastering laid 
on wire-lath or expanded metal or upon wood¬ 
en dovetailed lath, following the lines of the 
ceiling and of the timbers without any inter¬ 
spaces between the plastering and the wood; 
or else in protecting ceilings over hazardous 
places with asbestos air cell board, sheet metal, 
Sackett wall board or other fire-retardent. 

“4. It consists not only in so constructing 
the mill, workshop or warehouse that fire 
shall pass as slowly as possible from one part 
of the building to another, but also in provid¬ 
ing all suitable safeguards against fire.” 


f 





275 


N. Y. FIRE COLLEGE OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION 


Administration—Discipline—How to Fight Various 
Classes of Fires—High Pressure System—Operation 
of Apparatus—Auxiliary Appliances—Hydrau¬ 
lics—Fire Boats—Fire Alarm Telegraph Sys¬ 
tem—Care of Horses—First Aid, etc. 


(NOTE:—This instruction is given in the 
form of lectures to classes in the New York 
Fire College. The matter which follows is 
from shorthand notes taken of lectures by 
the Chief of Department and various Deputy 
Chiefs who act as Instructors. It is im¬ 
possible to place the subjects in regular 
order or to avoid some repetitions, due to 
the fact that the lectures are delivered by 
different Chiefs and on different occasions 
and to different classes. Such repetitions 
as are there will, if anything, be an aid to 
the student, because they give him several 
versions which he is enabled to compare.) 


ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPART¬ 
MENT. 

There is a great number of fires of incen¬ 
diarism in Greater New York, the propor¬ 
tion being about 25 per cent, of the total 
number of fires. The changing of horses to 
motors in propelling apparatus to fires, and 
for pumping engines, also the construction 
of buildings in this city, make fire fighting 
and handling valuable apparatus a science 
which requires more skill and knowledge 
on the part of the company commanders to 
meet those changed conditions than were 
previously required of them. 

The difficulty that met the Department 
in changing the horses to the motor-driven 
apparatus was very great, owing to the 
large expenditure of money to make the 
necessary change, and the loss that would 
be sustained in case of a mistake in not 
adopting the proper motor apparatus that 
would in every way qualify and be service¬ 
able. After careful study and overcoming 
these difficulties, the Department has de¬ 
cided to continue the use of the old-style 
boiler and pump engine equipped with two¬ 
wheeled front drive gasolene motor tractor 
and straight gasolene motor driven hose 
wagons; also the gasolene and electric 
hook and ladder trucks and gasolene line 
and electric driven water towers. 

Instruction in the Use of Tools and Imple¬ 
ments in the Yard. 

Sub-Cellar Pipe. 

“Baker” Cellar Pipe. 

“Hart” Cellar Pipe. 

“Breslin” Distributor. 


“Eureka” Pipe Holder. 

“Waldo” Pipe Holder. 

Detroit Lever Door Opener. 

“Hale” Door Opener (Jack). 

Battering ram, opening doors or piercing 
walls; to have line of hose charged and 
ready for use when using ram. 

Claw Tool (Lock Opener). 

Tin Cutter. 

Crow Bar. 

Pick Axe. 

Three-Way Gate. 


FIRE PREVENTION. 

There should be building inspection by 
Company Commanders to become familiar 
with all the buildings in their respective 
districts, to know the exits, the location of 
the stairways and the nature of the contents 
and stock contained therein; also the con¬ 
struction and the fire appliances installed in 
same. 

This information is valuable to the De¬ 
partment when called upon to extinguish a 
fire in these buildings, by enabling the men 
to reach the seat of the fire quickly, and 
through having a knowledge of the con¬ 
tents. If of a dangerous nature, to avoid 
endangering the lives of members of the 
Department by using proper precaution. 

Proper recommendations to be made by 
Company Officers in their reports of inspec¬ 
tions of buildings forwarded, and violations 
to be forwarded when same are found to 
exist. These reports are to be made out in 
a truthful and intelligent manner, so that 
the Bureau of Fire Prevention can issue the 
necessary orders to remedy the conditions. 
In this it is necessary for them to know 
the powers of the Fire Commissioner, so as 
to know whether any conditions as found 
can be remedied by the Fire Department, 
or if there are any existing laws the en¬ 
forcement or compliance with which would 
be the means of bringing the desired re¬ 
sults. 


FIRES IN TENEMENTS AND APART¬ 
MENT HOUSES, OLD AND NEW 
STYLE. 

A great deal is necessary to be known to 
successfully extinguish fires in tenement 


276 








and apartment houses. Some officers trans¬ 
ferred from commercial and loft districts to 
tenement and apartment districts do not 
think it important, and that there is great dan¬ 
ger and that care is necessary or knowledge 
needed to extinguish these fires, but this is 
a great mistake on their part. 

Water damage is the principal thing to pre¬ 
vent at this class of fire. Proper and quick 
ventilation is also necessary to successfully 
cope with fires in these buildings. It is nec¬ 
essary that the construction of these build¬ 
ings, both old and new style tenement and 
apartment houses, be carefully studied in or¬ 
der to make proper examinations of them and 
prevent fire from spreading from floor to 
floor through pipe recess and all kinds of 
other vertical openings, including lath and 
plaster partitions, dumbwaiters and light and 
air shafts from toilets. 

A small fire in a cellar, if an examination 
is not immediately made, therein. Also, on 
account of the lack of ventilation and the lack 
of doors or windows in rear to accomplish 
same. 

Where the stairs leading to the cellars are 
located in hall underneath stairs leading to 
upper part of the house, the first line taken 
into the hall is to be used to cover the hall 
stairs. 

If smoke and heat is so great as to pre¬ 
vent going down the stairs, to avoid punish¬ 
ment to the men when in a cramped position 
at the head of the stairs, close the door lead¬ 
ing to the cellar and shut off the nozzle, but 
keep the line in readiness. Open the doors 
every few minutes to allow the smoke and 
heat to escape and permit other companies to 
reach the fire from front or rear of build¬ 
ing. 

A second line to be stretched in these cases 
at once. Place on distributor. Locate fire by 
feeling hot spot on floor. Chop hole over 
fire and place distributor therein. 

If necessary, have other holes cut in floor 
near the windows to help ventilate cellar. The 
second line with controlling nozzle to be at¬ 
tached and stretched to front or rear of cel¬ 
lar (or side inner court) will greatly aid in 
extinguishing the fire. Sound judgment 
should be used in all of these cases. 

An examination of the upper parts of the 
building is necessary in order to ascertain 
if the fire has extended upwards through pipe 
recesses or other vertical openings. 

Three things are necessary in making these 
examinations: Feeling, seeing and smelling, 
and a little common sense thrown in. 

When fire in cellar has extended or spread 
to hall and is in possession of same, the first 
line should be taken to hall and the fire fol¬ 
lowed up. The fire will usually follow the 
line of the stairs upwards to the roof. It is 
very necessary to send one man to the roof, 
by means of the adjoining building, to open 
scuttle or skylight over the stairs. In follow¬ 
ing fire up stairway, place line up well hole, 
as this will extinguish fire more quickly and 
cover more ground. 

The second line should be taken through 
store, and fire followed up to the rear of 
building. Second or third-story fires that orig¬ 
inated in apartments and spread to stairs re¬ 


quire two lines usually; the first to cover 
and take care of apartment, and the second 
to extinguish the fire and prevent it from 
spreading up the stairs. 

• ^n 0 ^u r anc ^ Tiick ventilation is necessary 
ln these fires to remove smoke and heat. 

Officers should be very careful in sending 
out second and third alarms for tenement and 
apartment house fires. The first officer, upon 
arrival at the fire and seeing flames shooting 
out of two or three windows, should take into 
consideration the number of companies re¬ 
sponding to the first alarm; if there are three 
engine companies, he will have six streams at 
his command to extinguish a fire of this char¬ 
acter. 

Owing to partitions and rooms making 
small area of spaces, fires of this kind do not 
travel as quickly as in a loft building, with 
their large open spaces. These houses are usu¬ 
ally separated front and rear by fireproof 
partitions. Fireproof halls are protected by 
fire-resisting doors, and for this reason it is 
hardly necessary to use more than six streams 
at any of these fires. 

Nevertheless, when the fire is spreading to 
adjoining buildings, through the windows 
(side) in upper courts, it may be necessary 
to send for additional help. Do not hesitate 
if the conditions warrant the sending of a 
second or third alarm. 

In some new cheap style apartments with 
from three to seven families on a floor, each 
has a window of an apartment leading to a 
fire escape. To ventilate these apartments 
at times, there is a long private hall leading 
from stairhall to the apartment. Smoke and 
heat make reaching these apartments very 
difficult at times. 

The proper and best way to ventilate in 
this case is to send a man or the truck com¬ 
pany from floor underneath, up the fire es¬ 
cape, and open up the windows of- the apart¬ 
ments ; Engine Co. can then walk in and ex¬ 
tinguish the fire. 

Always watch out for the fire traveling up¬ 
ward in these supposed fireproof houses. 
There are often holes left in the ceiling, and 
fire _ and heat travel up through these holes 
setting fire to the sleepers and stud partitions 
of the floor above. Fire under tin ceilings 
of stores often travels across the hall to the 
store adjoining. Do not hesitate to pull down 
the ceilings, if they look much burnt, and 
follow same to the next store. 


HIGH PRESSURE. 

(NOTE:—The High Pressure System 
has been extended since the date of this 
lecture.) 

The Manhattan and Brooklyn systems are 
operated by electricity furnished by the Edi¬ 
son Company. Brooklyn can also get a sup¬ 
ply from the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Co. 
Electricity is supplied at 6,600 volts. Two 
cables to each station in Manhattan, and three 
cables to each in Brooklyn. There are six 
five-stage centrifugal pumps in each station, 
making 740 revolutions per minute at 300 
H. P. 


277 



The capacity of each pump is 4,000 gallons 
per minute at 300 pounds pressure, making a 
total of 24,000 gallons per minute at 300 
pounds and 36,000 gallons per minute at 150 
pounds. Grand total for both stations is 
45,000 gallons at 300 pounds and 45,000 per 
minute at 150 pounds pressure. 

Coney Island station has three 3 XXX cyl¬ 
inder, 4-cycle gas engines, XXXX 170 H. P. 
each. Capacity of each pump 1,500 gallons 
per minute. There is space for one more en¬ 
gine at this pumping station. Sixty pounds 
pressure is maintained on this system at all 
times. 

There are two sources of water supply to 
high pressure pumping stations in Manhat¬ 
tan: fresh water supplied from Central Park 
reservoir direct, and salt water supplied by 
two 36-inch mains from East River, on the 
east side station, and from the North River 
on the west side to suction chambers. 

This suction chamber is so constructed that 
the pipes are always below main water mark, 
thus insuring a supply at all times and avoid¬ 
ing the possibility of air getting into the suc¬ 
tion lines. Electric pumps are used to create 
a vacuum to bring the water from the suction 
chamber to the pumps. 

In Brooklyn the fresh water supply is car¬ 
ried by trunk mains direct from the Ridge¬ 
wood reservoir. In Brooklyn the Putnam 
Street station only gets salt water to supply 
pumps. The other Brooklyn station has no 
salt water supply and depends on the fresh 
water supply only. 

Coney Island has two water supplies, one 
12-inch main through Neptune Avenue from 
the. Ridgewood reservoir, and three 12-inch 
mains from two suction chambers supplied 
from Coney. Island Creek. 

Single main, cross-connected system in Man¬ 
hattan, from 24th to Chambers Street, west 
of Third Avenue and Bowery. 

Duplex mains located on system from Bow¬ 
ery. to East River, from Houston Street to 
Maiden Lane. 

White and green top hydrants and two sets 
of main run east and west on every other 
street; north and south the same way. 

In case of a break in mains, pressure will 
drop on all hydrants, as they are connected 
together. But a break in the mains will cause 
the operator to close the valve, which is elec¬ 
trically controlled at the pumping stations, 
and thus cause the two systems to become 
separate and confine the break to one main. 

When operating white or green top hydrants 
and the pressure drops, indicating a break in 
the main, do not leave the hydrant. Give the 
operator a chance to close the electrically con¬ 
trolled valve, and when it is closed the pres¬ 
sure will return, if it does not burst on the 
mains you are working from. 

Send a man to examine a hydrant, and you 
can be guided in making necessary change if 
the change is found necessary. It is also 
well to use telephone box in notifying pump¬ 
ing station, so that the operator may be guid¬ 
ed in learning the break more quickly on the 
information you are able to give him. 

There are two of these electrically con¬ 
trolled valves, located as follows: one at the 


corner of New Chambers and Chestnut Streets 
for the lower section. 

These valves are always open, and are con¬ 
trolled by switches at the Oliver Street Sta¬ 
tion by the operator when there is a break in 
the mains or the system. 

The pumps in the pumping stations make 
240 revolutions per minute, regardless of how 
much water is being used. 

When only 60 pounds are required the 
pressure is throttled down by means of a 
relief valve, which acts the same as the 
Churn Valve on a fire engine, causing the 
water not discharged to churn from the dis¬ 
charge to the suction side of the pump. 

This causes heat and friction, and does not 
do the pumps any good. For this reason, 
when a watch line is needed to supply water 
at 60 pounds or less for a long period, it is 
advisable to use a steam fire engine for this 
purpose, and save considerable wear and tear 
on the high pressure system pumps. 

Size and number of outlets on high pres¬ 
sure hydrants are as follows: 

On the old style system three independent 
valves and one 4^-inch independent valve. 

On all new system hydrants there are four 
3-inch outlets (independent). 

The main valves on all high pressure hy¬ 
drants are 6 11-16 inches in diameter. 

The main valve is to be opened full at all 
times when operating at a fire, this being done 
by making 21 full turns to the right. The 
pilot valve is located under the main valve, 
and is 2 5-16 inches in diameter and operates 
on the first two or three turns of the main- 
stem, allowing the water to enter the barrel 
of the. hydrant and equalize the pressure on 
both sides of the main valve, allowing an easy 
operation of the main valve under high pres¬ 
sure. 

Independent valves require 16 turns to open 
fully; 14^-inch independent valve requires 23 
turns. 

There is a drain valve connected to the 
main valve, and this drain operates automati¬ 
cally, closing when the valve is opened and 
opening when the main valve is closed, drain¬ 
ing the remaining water in the barrel of the 
hydrant into the sewer and preventing freez¬ 
ing of the hydrants in cold weather. 

Sand and sediment may stop the seating of 
this valve and cause the hydrant to freeze 


COMBUSTION. 

Spontaneous Ignition Point expresses the 
temperature at which a body takes fire. 

Combustion Point expresses the tempera¬ 
ture at which burning starts. 

Calorie expresses the unit measure for 
heat. 

Extinguishing fire with water has a cool¬ 
ing action, causing the flame to be sup¬ 
pressed. Steam, when used in a confined 
room, excludes oxygen from the air and 
smothers the flame. 

Different Kinds of Combustion. 

Auto combustion in bales of malt. 



Spontaneous ignition, three kinds: Chem¬ 
ical, Electrical and Static electricity. Sub¬ 
stances causing spontaneous ignition by 
chemical action: Acids, etc. By electrical 
action: Static electricity and lightning. By 
biological action: Growth in hay and mil¬ 
dew. 

Coal series of spontaneous ignition: Coal, 
coke, peat, carbon, lampblack. 

Wood series: Sawdust, charcoal and 
shavings. 

Color, varnish and paint series: Colors, 
varnish and resin. 

Varnish and lacquer series: Matches con¬ 
taining phosphorous. 

Metallic powder series: Zinc dust, iron 
filings, mill turnings. 

Carbides and carriers of oxygen: Nitrate 
acid and nitro compounds: Artificial man¬ 
ure, stale dry manure, hay, clover, grass, 
moss, fodder, wool, cotton, silk, flax, hemp, 
tow rope, oily rags, greasy clothing, pol¬ 
ishing rags and buffing wheels. 

Causes of Spontaneous Ignition. 


sufficient amount of 254-inch hose and 54- 
inch nozzle to cover the floor area. 

There is another check valve located on 
the horizontal line under the tank on the 
roof which shuts off the tank supply when 
the F. D. supplies the standpipe from the 
outside Siamese connection. 

There is another check valve located near 
the pump in the cellar to prevent the pres¬ 
sure from the fire engine damaging the 
house pump. These tanks are either known 
as gravity or pressure tanks that supply 
the standpipe systems. 

A dry standpipe system is installed in 
the same way, as far as the outlets, hose 
and nozzles on each floor are concerned, but 
they have no tank supply, and no water 
can be had until the arrival of the F. D. 
to supply same from engine or high-pres¬ 
sure system through the outside Siamese 
connections. 


SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. 


1st—Moisture. 

2nd—Bacteria. 

3rd—Fermentation. 

4th—Storage in large heaps. 

These are four combined causes of spon¬ 
taneous ignition in agricultural fodder and 
manure products. 

5th—Spontaneous containing sulphur: In 
coal and lampblack series. 

6th—Protractive drying: In wood series. 

7th—Substances containing fats and oils: 
In paint series. 

8th—Substances that absorb moisture: 
Quicklime, sodium and potassium. 

9th—Exposure to the sun: Mixtures of 
chlorides and chorophus. 

10th—Concentration of sun’s rays: Cur¬ 
tains, draperies and empty volatile oil bar¬ 
rels. 

11th—Electric sparks: Rubbing together 
of clothing in cleaning and dyeing establish¬ 
ments, causing static electricity setting fire 
to vapors. 


STANDPIPES AND AUXILIARY 
APPLIANCES. 

There are two kinds of standpipe sys¬ 
tems, wet and dry. 

The wet standpipe system is connected 
with either tanks on the roof or by street 
mains and there is always a supply of water 
at hand. 

A wet system is equipped with outside 
Siamese connection for F. D. supply. There 
is a horizontal check inside the front wall 
to hold the water in the standpipe, not al¬ 
lowing it to reach the outside Siamese con¬ 
nection and freeze in cold weather. 

There is a small drain located in the 
standpipe between the horizontal check and 
the Siamese connection to drain off water 
in case of leak in said check valve and 
after the F. D. arrives. 

There is one 254-inch outlet on each floor 
and also one in cellar and on the roof, with 


Sprinkler systems are of two kinds, “wet 
and dry.” The wet sprinkler system re¬ 
ceives its supply of water from tanks on 
roofs of the buildings, either pressure 
(steel) or gravity tanks; street mains and 
suction tanks and pumps in the cellar, and 
also from outside Siamese connections from 
the Fire Department. There are risers con¬ 
nected to the different water supplies, and 
from these risers branches are taken on 
each floor. 

Other smaller pipes hung on the ceiling 
with fusible sprinkler heads distributed 
eight feet apart so as to cover every part 
of the, building. The flow of water is con¬ 
trolled on each floor by a valve, which 
should always be “locked open.” There is 
also another valve under the tank con¬ 
trolling all floors. 

The heat from fire originally in any part 
of the building will cause a sprinkler head 
to fuse, and cause pressure on the system, 
the deflector on the sprinkler head revolv¬ 
ing and deflecting the water in every direc¬ 
tion, thus extinguishing fire. They are also 
equipped with an automatic alarm system 
that notifies the Fire Department at once. 

Dry automatic sprinklers are of two 
kinds: 

1st—In buildings where there is no heat 
and the wet system is apt to freeze, a dry 
system must be installed. By means of a 
dry valve located at the water supply, the 
pipes are filled with air compressed, instead 
of water. The heat fusing a head causes 
the air to escape and allows the water to 
fill the system and flow from the fused head, 
thus extinguishing the fire. 

2nd—There are dry automatic sprinkler 
systems for cellars and sub-cellars which are 
a substitute for the old perforated pipe sys¬ 
tem. This system receives its water supply 
from the outside Siamese connection from 
a F. D. fire engine or high-pressure hydrant 
supplying same. This system of cellar and 
sub-cellar sprinklers is connected up to¬ 
gether and can run the entire length of the 


279 




building, no matter how deep, and can be 
supplied from either street frontage by the 
Siamese connections and distribute water 
only where heat has fused a sprinkler head, 
thereby saving great water usage in cases 
of small fire in cellar or sub-cellar. 

The perforated pipe system is not to be 
recommended in the future on account of 
the great water damage done by its use 
when the fire is small; also on account of 
their running only 100 feet, and because 
the cellar and sub-cellar must be supplied 
independently. 

Where dry automatic sprinklers are in¬ 
stalled there is an automatic alarm system 
attached to same. Some of these auto¬ 
matic sprinklers for cellars and sub-cellars 
are connected with the street mains and the 
pumps act or operate automatically. The 
appliances that are necessary in different 
kinds of buildings, such as buildings over 
85 feet in height, places of amusement, man¬ 
ufactories of all kinds, hospitals, asylums, 
car barns, railroad depots, ferry houses, gar¬ 
ages, etc. 

Gate valves are recommended on all 
standpipe outlets instead of globe valves; 
also swing check valves instead of hori¬ 
zontal and vertical checks for the purpose 
of allowing a more direct flow of water and 
to prevent friction. 


THE USE OF PRESSURE-REGULAT¬ 
ING VALVES ON STANDPIPES. 

The same to be placed midway to 
avoid excessive pressure on lower out¬ 
lets of standpipes in tall buildings. When 
the building is 20 stories in height this regu¬ 
lating valve is placed on the tenth floor, and 
is placed in a by-pass on standpipe, 
equipped with a check valve on both sides 
to cut out same when the supply is received 
from outside Siamese connection in street. 

The number of pounds pressure at the 
outlet on the fifth floor of a building 20 
stories in height is figured out as follows: 

250 feet minus 63 feet equals 187 feet; 
187 X -434 equals 80 pounds pressure at 
the outlet on the fifth floor. 

To find the pressure to be maintained 
on a fire engine on high pressure hydrant: 
Deduct the friction loss on the 3-inch hose 
in the street, also the hose connected and 
stretched from the floor outlet according to 
gallons flow. Use the given .434 multiplied 
by the height of the standpipe to the floor 
the line is stretched and operated from. 
Allow 10 pounds friction loss for Siamese 
connection and different kinds of fittings, 
such as long and short elbows. These fric¬ 
tion losses added to the nozzle pressure 
taken by a pilot gauge gives you the pres¬ 
sure to be maintained on the engine or 
high-pressure hydrant. 

As there is danger in open outlets and 
low stories on account of high pressure due 
to weight of water, always open the nozzle 
slowly, and shut it off the same way. Stand¬ 
pipes should be cross-connected at the bot¬ 
tom where there are two risers to avoid 


making the water travel up one side and 
down the other side of the building. Pres¬ 
sure tanks in cellars for standpipes and 
sprinkler systems are not approved, for the 
reason that if the air compressor gets out 
of order the tank is of no use for the pur¬ 
pose of extinguishing the fire. When the 
pressure tank is on the roof and the com¬ 
pressor gets out of order it becomes a grav¬ 
ity tank. 

There are different causes for standpipes 
being put out of service. 

1st—-Sometimes the caps cannot be re¬ 
moved. 

2nd—Mud from the tank when same is 
being washed out often settles at the bot¬ 
tom at the horizontal check and cakes there. 

3rd—Horizontal checks are sometimes 
placed in backwards. 

4th—Plugs of wood left in pipes on com¬ 
pletion of the job and jam at the bottom or 
at the outlet. 

5th—Check valves at the bottom of tank 
held open cause the pressure from engine 
or high pressure hydrant to go into tank 
and overflow. 

In railroad and ferry houses they have a 
sprinkler system and a standpipe system 
where the water supply is furnished by 
means of a circulating pump, a small elec¬ 
tric pump being used to circulate the water 
through the system and prevent freezing. 

The standpipe system on the Manhattan 
Bridge consists of two 5-inch standpipes 
with outlet valves 100 feet apart on each 
roadway. Each standpipe has two control¬ 
ling valves (gate valves) at each tower of 
the bridge. By closing these valves the 
pressure is concentrated at any given point. 
By closing the valve at the New York 
tower to extinguish a fire on roadway to¬ 
ward the Manhattan side of the bridge, you 
would get the pressure quicker and not have 
to wait until the water reached the Brook¬ 
lyn side and then backed up. 

When closing any of these valves, open 
a nearby outlet and let the air out of the 
pipe, and the water will come quicker. 

Risers equipped with Siamese connec¬ 
tions from each standpipe for supply from 
the high-pressure hydrants are located as 
follows: 

On the Manhattan side of the bridge, 
Division and Cherry Streets, and at pier at 
East River and fireboats. 

Williamsburg Bridge has small stand¬ 
pipes. 

Brooklyn Bridge has standpipes, but same 
have been condemned. 

Both of these bridges are to have a dupli¬ 
cate of the Manhattan Bridge system. 

By means of the standpipe system on the 
Manhattan Bridge both the high pressure 
systems of Manhattan and Brooklyn can be 
made one or be made to supply each other 
in case of emergency. 

Reducers and increasers can be used when 
connections cannot be made to Siamese con¬ 
nections, owing to the fulness of threads on 
hose or female swivels of Siamese connec¬ 
tions. 


280 



FIRST AID TO INJURED. 

In case of a person being injured, send for 
a doctor or ambulance at once. Use the 
“First Aid to the Injured” with instructions, 
and use same intelligently. In case of hemor¬ 
rhage of any part of the arms or legs, first 
locate the arteries by feeling for pulsation, 
as arteries pulsate and veins do not. Then 
remove the person to some safe place and lay 
him down on a blanket or clothing. Arteries 
are located in the back part of legs and arms. 
When arteries are located, place penknife, roll 
of bandage or stone over same, press down¬ 
ward, and press the bandage up. Then place 
the leg or arm in an upright position, and the 
blood will stop flowing. When there is a 
hemorrhage from a wound in the body or 
trunk, fold up a piece of bandage and press 
same downward into the wound and stop 
flow of blood. 

In order to be correct in notifying the 
medical officer of injuries to members of the 
Department, it is necessary to know the dif¬ 
ferent parts of the body so that the medical 
officer may be guided in bringing the necessary 
instruments to the scene. 

1st—Shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist 

and hand. 

2nd—Hip, thigh, knee, leg and feet. 

The heart pumps and sucks the blood, at 
the same time causing circulation through the 
body. The heart pumps the blood through 
the arteries and supplies the veins and flows 
downward through the legs and arms and 
returns through the lower part of the body, 
passing through the lungs to the right side 
of the heart. The cutting of an artery causes 
the blood to spurt, making the heart pump 
faster. Be careful of blood poisoning when 
treating open wounds or sepsis. Always use 
sepsis gauze when touching a wound. 

To treat Burns from steam, spread over 
the parts affected bicarbonate or baking soda. 
Lay the gauze on top, and bandage up. 

To distinguish between a steam and a 
flame burn: Flame burn removes the hair, 
while steam burn does not. To treat a flame 
burn, carron oil should be used. Keep the 
oil spread over the wound and lay on top of 
it non-absorbent cotton. 

Fracture is the breaking of a bone. 

Treatment for dislocation of bones: First 
have the patient lay perfectly still until medi¬ 
cal aid arrives. Place splints on top and bot¬ 
tom of the break and bandage up. 

Sprains: A tearing on the ligaments that 
bind the bones together. Treatment: Place 
the limb in hot water, causing the rest of the 
parts surrounding to swell together and re¬ 
duce the pain. 

Smoke Gases: There are two kinds, the 
medical terms for which are “C. O. and 
“C. o. No. 2.” “C. O.” is carbon monoxide; 

carbon after burning in the open air. . “C. O. 
No. 2” is carbon dioxide, after burning and 
being confined. Both are poisonous, but C. 
O. No. 2” is very dangerous. 

Treatment of cases of smoke suffocation: 
Remove the patient from the smoky atmo¬ 
sphere and open the clothing at the neck and 
waistband. To assist breathing, open patient s 


mouth and pull tongue forward. Place a 
small piece of lint folded under the tongue. 

Smoke suffocation is caused by the oxygen 
leaving the air; life cannot exist without oxy¬ 
gen. When a lamp goes out that is a sign 
there is no oxygen in the air, and is a warn- 
ing to look out. That is the time “C. O. No. 
2” is present. 


OVERHAULING OF COMMERCIAL 
FIRES. 

“Overhauling” is a term used for finishing 
up a fire and to extinguish the remaining fire 
without waste of water or extra water damage. 
There are two conditions to be taken into 
consideration: First, the construction of the 
building; second, the contents to be over¬ 
hauled. 

Paper, cloth and woolen stock are very 
dangerous, and great care is necessary when 
overhauling to thoroughly extinguish the fire 
and to prevent its rekindling. 

While overhauling the stock an examination 
of the building is necessary to ascertain if the 
fire has extended to the upper floors or other 
parts of the building, or to another building, 
by various other vertical openings, such as ele¬ 
vator, dumbwaiter, light and vent shafts, pipe 
recesses, stairs or holes in floors caused by 
alterations of gas light or electric wire con¬ 
duits. 

In this examination, if possible, make room 
on floor where there is a large stock, to gel 
rid of tables, chairs, boxes and shavings, and 
remove same from building if necessary. 
Stock packed in boxes on shelves should not 
be thrown around by men, but each one should 
be carefully examined to see if there is any 
fire remaining in same. 

To overhaul material laying on the floor, 
start at the front and rear of the floor, di¬ 
vide the men up and work towards the center. 
Always keep a face on the goods being over¬ 
hauled. Go over same with care. Get rid of 
the water on the. floor by dipping goods that 
have been burnt in same. 

When there is a large amount of water on 
the floor, cut holes in the floor near the eleva¬ 
tor shafts. 

If a fireproof floor, knock out a piece of 
the fireproof flooring near the elevator shaft 
and allow the water to drain off. 

Do not pull down plaster upon any stock 
lying on the floor, but make a clear space for 
same, avoiding any more damage than is abso¬ 
lutely necessary. 

Get pails, cans or tanks and fill same up 
with water from the line and have men dip 
the burnt clothing in same when overhauling 
the stock. Hay, burlap, bags and rags baled 
in large quantities when on. fire, it is often 
necessary to remove from building. 

Cut out a window flush with the floor by 
knocking out the brick front or rear wall 
and thereby avoid lifting bales up to the sill. 
This will also assist in getting rid of the 
water from the lines used in washing down 
burnt bales. 

When ordered to cut out window frames, 
cut out only the parts that are burnt and 



enough at the sides to permit an examination 
to be made behind same. 

When the front has to be removed, cut bot¬ 
tom of the frame in a slanting position in 
the center, and the whole frame will drop out. 

In tenement house fires, in overhauling do 
not throw valuable goods out of the windows 
(that is, those that have not been burnt), or 
throw around in a careless manner. 

Officers will watch men and not allow them 
to do any unnecessary damage while over¬ 
hauling. 


FIRES IN LOFT BUILDINGS. 

Theoretical opinions of fireproof construc¬ 
tion are not always successful; so also in the 
case of fire prevention. 

Here is an instance where an insurance 
company refused to pay a claim on account 
of the steam pipes not being properly pro¬ 
tected by fireproof coverings, causing the same 
to set fire to a wooden partition. This, the 
insurance company claimed, was negligence on 
the part of the owner, and therefore he had 
no claim. The owner won the case in court 
by proving that tests conducted showed that 
in order to set fire to this wooden partition 
it was necessary to generate far more heat 
than generated by the steam pipes. 

# The growth of the loft buildings in this 
city has reached such proportions that it 
would be impossible with any degree of cer¬ 
tainty to foretell how far they will eventually 
reach. At the present time in the district 
north of Fourteenth Street to Fiftieth Street, 
from Third, to Eighth Avenues, there is hardly 
a block which does not contain two or more 
loft buildings. In the lower sections of this 
district, from Fourteenth to Thirty-fourth 
Street, from Fourth to Eighth Avenues, they 
are more numerous, whole blocks being lined 
with them from 12 to 20 stories in height. 

The form of construction in them is as a 
rule good, but the large floor space, the large 
inflammable nature of the stock on each floor, 
and the great height from the street make 
them very dangerous. 

The more recently built of this class of 
buildings are protected by automatic sprinkler 
systems throughout, with pressure tanks of 
from 10,000 to 30,000 gallons of water on the 
roof to supply systems; also an auxiliary sup¬ 
ply to same from the Fire Department by 
means of Siamese connections at the street 
front. 

There is great danger of fire spreading from 
floor to floor and generating an enormous heat 
that would be. likely to cause the structure to 
collapse if quick means were not on hand to 
prevent same. 

Another.danger is the suffocation of firemen 
in extinguishing these fires, from combustion 
of chemicals in the fabrics, acids and other 
fumes arising from cedar boxes and cigar 
boxes used in the storage of clothing and 
cigars, combined with the lack of ventilation 
in front where wire glass is used in windows 
of those buildings. Wire glass is also used 
on rear windows and side windows, with plain 
glass in front windows. 


Fire that has been burning for some time 
before being discovered causes the fire to 
blow out the front windows, on account of 
their being the point of the least resistance, 
and sometimes to communicate with the floor 
above. In these cases it is necessary to get 
water on the fire at once. 

The water tower, deck pipe and turret pipes 
of hose wagons are to be brought into use at 
once and operated by the last due companies. 
This should be done without waiting for or¬ 
ders, for the purpose of cooling down the 
floors and stopping the spread of fire and 
permit the first due company to connect to 
standpipes and extinguish the fire on floors 
by reaching same from hall stairs and rear 
fire escapes from the floor below. 

First due companies stretch 3-inch line to 
Siamese connection and follow up with an¬ 
other immediately after, the rest of the com¬ 
pany to proceed to the floor on fire with two 
lengths of 2^-inch hose rolled up, using ele¬ 
vator or stairs. Second due companies and 
third due also, when the fire warrants it, 
carry up two rolled lengths of hose to fill 
in with the house line and operate from rear 
fire escape from the floor below. 

First due companies to connect to the near¬ 
est outlet on standpipe possible to do so with 
safety, removing house line and place rolled 
up length, allowing same to roll down stairs, 
and connect second length by opening door 
on floor below and stretching line in on that 
floor; place nozzle on line and return upstairs 
to the point of operation. 

Noting the width and length of‘building 
will guide you in knowing how many lengths 
of hose will be necessary. 

Truck companies to proceed to the floor 
of fire and open door leading to loft, also 
doors on floor below, and ventilate floor from 
rear fire escape by opening windows on said 
floors. 

There are some locks on the door of these 
lofts which are very hard to open. It is well 
for truck companies to examine the locks and 
also window fastenings, which will guide them 
in opening locks on doors in other parts of 
building which may become necessary. 

When too much time would be required in 
opening these doors, which are sometimes of 
sheet steel, a hole placed in the partition, which 
is generally about eight inches thick and built 
of hollow tile firebrick, will allow a man to 
enter and open door from inside, if it is not 
too hot. 

Have line charged and ready for doing this, 
and cool off around this opening. 

A claw tool reached in will enable you to 
open the door from the inside. When this 
fails the hole can be made as large as neces¬ 
sary to allow men to enter and extinguish 
fire through same. 

Thick wire glass on street windows of high 
isolated buildings makes ventilation very hard 
from the front of these buildings. 

It is necessary to hoist scaling ladders to 
the floor underneath the fire by means of roof 
ropes. 

Have men with life belts standing on sills 
held by men on floor. The hook of scaling 
ladder should be raised to upper floor and 


282 



point of ladder inserted in glass where heat 
has softened it and the glass be torn with 
a downward pull, causing an opening to be 
made to give ventilation. Two or more scal¬ 
ing ladders can be used to insure safety by 
men working in pairs, and roof ropes to be 
tied around men to insure safety. This al¬ 
lows the engine companies to enter the floors 
and extinguish the fire. 

Large wrenches-are used to take off caps 
on Siamese connections. When this fails, take 
line to outlet of standpipe on first floor, using 
the double female connection and increaser— 
a 3-inch increaser, if fire warrants it. Stretch 
as many lines as necessary in the same way 
to the second, third and fourth floors to sup¬ 
ply standpipe. 

When connections cannot be made to Sia¬ 
mese connection on account of fullness of 
threads on the female swivel of the hose to 
make connection, carry 3-inch washers to place 
in Siamese connections to make them tight 
and prevent loss of pressure. 

When entering the old style loft buildings 
where fire cannot be seen and only heat and 
smoke are felt, have the line charged with 
water and ready at all times to open nozzle 
if fire shows up. Wheels are often missing 
on outlet valves, and monkey wrenches often 
have to be used to open same. 

Try all outlets on standpipes going upstairs, 
as they may be open and prevent you from 
getting the pressure at the nozzle. Check 
valves under tanks held up allow the water 
to go into tanks. In this case close the globe 
valve, which is usually located under the 
check valve. 

To ventilate the front of buildings with 
wire glass when not too high, the aerial lad¬ 
der with man on same extended with 10-foot 
hook can be used to ventilate same. Aerial 
ladders can be lowered to window and fly 
ladder extended so as to break glass and ven¬ 
tilate the floor. 


CARE OF HORSES. 

In order to understand the orders given 
by a veterinarian, it is necessary to know 
something about the makeup of a horse; to 
know something about the circulation of 
blood, the functions of the heart, arteries and 
veins through which the blood flows through 
the body. Also the cells in the blood, red 
cells and white cells. The red cells contain 
iron, and the white cells are the scavengers 
of the blood and keep foreign matter from 
the system. 

The heart pumps the blood through the ar¬ 
teries, and they in turn distribute to the veins, 
and the veins return it through the lungs back 
to the heart, where it starts all over again. 

In case of hemorrhages when blood pul¬ 
sates from a wound you will know it is an 
artery that has been severed. Arteries pulsate, 
and veins do not. To stop hemorrhages from 
an artery of the pulse, tie a tourniquet between 
the heart and the wound. In case of a vein 
being severed, tie a tourniquet below the 
wound and at a place away from the heart, 
in order to stop the flow of blood. 


It is necessary to know something about 
digestion, which starts in the mouth by chew¬ 
ing the food and mixing with saliva which 
forms in the mouth, passes to the stomach 
and the intestines, and after digestion is ab¬ 
sorbed by the blood. One step in this pro¬ 
cedure depends on the other. The stomach 
acid and the stomach contains alkaline. Sharp 
teeth are often the cause of indigestion. The 
amount of saliva and gastric juices has a great 
deal to do with indigestion. 

Presence of food in the stomach causes an 
increase of gastric juice from the blood. Run¬ 
ning causes the blood to come to the surface 
of the body, and it is necessary to equalize 
the circulation of the blood betore allowing 
food to enter the stomach, which if not equal¬ 
ized will cause congestion of the stomach and 
intestines and cause founder. Wounds in the 
skin generally get better—nature provides for 
that—but it is necessary to keep clean and 
cover them with clean material. 

Keep the horse in motion when returning 
from a “run,” and allow him to cool gradu¬ 
ally. Do not feed him or allow him to drink 
until cooled off. 

Outside influence causes wounds not to heal. 

A horse respirates 20 times per minute, and 
the heart beats 40 times a minute. It is nec¬ 
essary to keep horses in good health and sup¬ 
ply sufficient ventilation for them in fire¬ 
houses. 

Disease is caused by bugs entering the blood 
through wounds and the lungs in foul air or 
the atmosphere. These bugs throw off sub¬ 
stances the same as the human body. This 
substance is called toxine, which is poisonous 
and destroys life. The bugs cause decomposi¬ 
tion on entering the body. There are differ¬ 
ent bugs for different diseases. 

Clean wounds and keep clean, covering 
them with clean materials, as extreme clean¬ 
liness is necessary to heal wounds. 


OIL FIRES. 

Inflammable oils are made from petroleum. 
It is pumped through pipes from wells to 
refineries, where the crude oil is boiled in 
stills and goes through the various processes 
of distillation. 

The first oils taken from the stills are: 

First, gasolene; second, benzine; third, 
kerosene; fourth, lubricating; fifth, paraffine 
or wax; sixth, tar; seventh, coke. 

These stills when on fire blow up the cov¬ 
ers, which is the warning of fire. It is neces¬ 
sary when entering the yards during the prog¬ 
ress of a fire to guard your men and always 
watch the exits to see that same are always 
unobstructed, so as to be able to make a safe 
retreat in case of a spill or explosion. 

Sparks igniting vapors cause rapid spread 
of fire. Get advice from employees of the 
oil works, and have them empty the tanks, 
or close the valves. Superintendent to be 
called upon for information. Streams of wa¬ 
ter to be directed on sides of said tanks to 
cool them off and prevent explosion. 

Let the oil burn itself out. Keep gaskets 
on manhole plates cooled off with streams 


283 




of water. If water is thrown into oil tanks, 
oil being lighter than water, the water will 
sink to the bottom and boil, causing the tanks 
to overflow and spread the fire. 

Do not allow the overflow oil to run in the 
sewer system, but bank same up and surround 
it with streams of water and allow it to burn 
itself out. Use the same measures when oil 
overflows into river. Do not allow it to 
float on the water and get away when it is 
ablaze. Surround it with streams and let it 
burn out. 

There are different parts to an oil plant, 
as follows: Storage of oil tanks, refining in 
stills, filling of oil in cans and bottles for 
shipment, storage of empty cans and barrels. 
Empty tanks form a gas which often explodes. 
Open lights are not to be used in an oil plant. 

There are pumps under stills for extinguish¬ 
ing oil fires by the use of a compound of bi¬ 
carbonate of soda and licorice, or sulphate of 
aluminum. When these compounds are pump¬ 
ed on the surface of oil, a very heavy foam 
spreads over the oil and extinguishes the fire. 
Sand is often used with good results. Tanks 
containing these oils have flaps, and when the 
oil goes afire these flaps blow upward and 
prevent explosion of the tanks. They fall 
back on the tank after the explosion and in 
falling back often extinguish the fire by sud¬ 
denly excluding the air from the tank. 

Red-hot pipes and connections to tanks 
should not be hit with a stream of water, 
which, if done, will cause a rupture of the 
pipes. When gasolene flame is burning, do 
not put it out unless you are able to stop 
the flow, as the vapor will escape and com¬ 
municate with other parts of the plant. 

In case of fire in shipping rooms and where 
cans are filled, care should be used in direct¬ 
ing streams of water to prevent turning over 
or knocking over cans and barrels, causing 
the oils to flow to other parts of the plant 
while aflame. 

Fireboats in directing large streams from 
turret pipes, etc., sometimes overturn cans and 
barrels and drive the fire into other parts of 
plants. It is best to direct streams and stretch 
lines away from the main plant, and avoid 
turning over cans and barrels and doing un¬ 
necessary damage. 

Officers in charge of company districts 
which contain these plants should make a reg¬ 
ular inspection of same, and ascertain the best 
and quickest means of extinguishing fires in 
the plant from the employees. 

Also ascertain the location of valves and 
the way to pump oil from one tank to anoth¬ 
er, and other general information'that would 
guide him in extinguishing a fire if it started 
in one of these plants. 

Varnish fires in old-style varnish factories 
are very dangerous, and water has no effect 
of extinguishing them. All that can be done 
is to direct streams of water to adjoining and 
surrounding property and allow the varnish to 
burn out. 

Remove apparatus from in front of build¬ 
ing and vicinity. Do not place ladders against 
or look into floor through curiosity. While 
fire is burning, tanks are liable to overturn 
or collapse and allow contents to overflow out 
of windows and doors and run down into the 


street. Do not allow it to run into sewers, 
but dam it up with dirt and keep streams sur¬ 
rounding it, and allow it to burn out. New 
buildings of this kind are built fireproof with 
proper sills, and there is not much trouble 
with them. Roofs of old buildings should be 
opened, to prevent explosion or spreading of 
fire. 


GASES AND NARCOSIS. 

Narcosis is stupor or unconsciousness 
from smoke or gases. To stand these gases 
when called upon to extinguish fires in 
places where these gases arise, it is neces¬ 
sary to keep in good general condition by 
taking proper exercise, walking to meals, 
and being moderate in the use of alcohol. 

Smoke gases contain carbon monoxide, 
and in entering buildings charged with 
smoke, breathing should be done through 
the nose. Men should not get excited or 
nervous, as that tends to make them easy 
victims to these gases. 

No person can teach another how to eat 
smoke; this is something that can only be 
learned through actual experience. 

It is necessary for truck companies to 
ventilate buildings properly and quickly in 
order to allow engine companies to enter 
and extinguish the fire, allow the escape of 
dangerous gases and prevent men from be¬ 
ing overcome. This should be quickly and 
thoroughly done. 

Coal or illuminating gas is more danger¬ 
ous than water gas. Coal gas contains 10 
per cent, carbon monoxide; there is 47 per 
cent, carbon monoxide in water gas (pos¬ 
sibly error in taking notes). 

The body contains oxygen. The heart 
pumps the blood through the arteries and 
the veins. Red cells in the blood contain 
iron. Carbonic acid is created in the cir¬ 
culation of the blood. The red corpuscles 
in the blood carry iron also and combine 
with the carbonic acid gas. A small 
amount of carbon monoxide does not affect 
oxygen. Illuminating gas contains 47 per 
cent of C. O., and causes the destruction of 
the red blood cells. 

When men are overcome from these 
gases, notify the doctor at once. Also no¬ 
tify the doctor what kind of gas the men 
have been subject to, as there is a difference 
in the treatment of each kind of gas. The 
following is the true story of a F. D. in 
the Middle West responding to a fire in a 
drug store: 

At the fire a three-gallon carboy of 
nitrate acid broke. Sawdust was put on 
it to absorb the acid, but instead of doing 
it this caused it to burn more fiercely, and 
to overcome the fumes sand was spread 
over same. Seven of the men died from 
the effects of inhaling the nitrate acid 
fumes, 22 responded to treatment and 11 
were sent to the hospital, where they re¬ 
mained for six months. 

The acid irritated and paralyzed the 
valve of the throat and would not allow it 
to work, and caused suffocation. In other 


284 



!t ! nflamed the lungs and caused the 
same action as pneumonia. 


Smoke Gas Treatment. 

the Parent from smoky atmos¬ 
phere and send for a doctor. Give the 
patient plenty of fresh air and loosen the 
clothing at the neck, chest and waistband. 
L,ay him on a blanket and use artificial res¬ 
piration as taught in the First Aid to the 
Injured. Get a cylinder of oxygen from 
the nearest drug store and give same to 
patient while waiting for the doctor The 
fumes of nitric acid have a yellow color 
and a very pungent smell of acid. Give the 
patient a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of 
ammonia in seltzer water. 


GENERAL FIRE FIGHTING. 

No two fires are alike, but there are con¬ 
ditions existing around all fires: First, to 
control fire and prevent spread of same. 

All fires have a small start, except ex¬ 
plosions. 

Promptly summon help by sending addi¬ 
tional alarms when it is found necessary. 
Get the first line to seat of fire, as the 
first line does good work when good judg¬ 
ment is used together with plenty of per¬ 
severance. Grit and sand are very often 
required to obtain the proper result. Of¬ 
ficers should go inside and not stand out¬ 
side, so as to be near the pipe. 

When working from a ladder, get in on 
the floor as soon as possible, and not delay 
on ladders. 

Officers of engine companies should look 
up the situation quickly and be able to 
tell at once how many lengths of hose will 
be required to reach the seat of the fire. 
Be guided in ordinary buildings where the 
stairs are located in front, one length to the 
story, and an extra length for good meas¬ 
ure. It is better to have too much than 
too short, even half a length. 

Officers of H. & L. companies to be quick 
in ventilating buildings. It is necessary 
for officers to know the capacity of their 
engines and to know the capacity of noz¬ 
zles at certain pressures, also to know 
something about- an engineer to find out 
if the engineer is performing his full duty 
and getting full pressures from his engine 
at all times. 

For standpipes for quick figuring allow 
10 feet to a story 454 pounds for each story. 

They should know how far a stream will 
reach and be able to quickly figure loss 
by friction in standpipes and hose to de¬ 
termine what pressure is necessary to de¬ 
liver this pressure to the seat of fire. 


TO FIND THE CAPACITY OF A 
DUPLEX PUMP. 

Square the diameter of the pump piston. 
Multiply by .7854 to get the area of same. 
Multiply by length of stroke. Multiply by 
2 for each revolution in each stroke. Mul¬ 


tiply by number of revolutions per minute. 
Divide the result by 231 to find the number 
of gallons discharged by one pump. Mul¬ 
tiply by 2 to find gallons discharged by 
the pumps. 

From the above subtract the following: 
Square the diameter of the pump rod. Mul¬ 
tiply by .7854 to get the area. Multiply by 
length of piston rod. Multiply by num¬ 
ber of revolutions per minute. Divide the 
result by 231. Multiply by 2 for double 
pump. This gives the displacement of the 
piston rods. By subtracting the displace¬ 
ment of the piston rods, you get the exact 
capacity of pumps in gallons discharged 
per minute. 

Hydraulics are liquids in action; hydro¬ 
statics are the reverse. 

To operate from the tenth floor of a 16- 
story building, connect to the standpipe, 60 
pounds being required on the outlet valves 
on the tenth floor, using 700 gallons flow. 
The standpipe is 6 inches and is supplied 
from, two second-size engines with 300 feet 
of 3-inch hose to each line. That pressure 
would be required on the engines to main¬ 
tain 60 pounds on the tenth floor. 

125 feet = height of standpipe to tenth 
floor. 

12.5 feet to a story 
10 stories 


125 feet 
.434 


500 

375 

500 


54.250 = 54^ lbs. loss S. P. 


TO OBTAIN A LARGE STREAM FROM 
TENTH FLOOR ACROSS INTER¬ 
VENING SPACE. 

A movement for operating one large 
stream from the roof or from the window 
of a building which is equipped with a 6- 
inch standpipe, to fight the fire across the 
street, or in an adjoining building where 
two companies co-operate: 

Operating from roof 12 stories high, one 
254 -inch line from the outlet on the ninth 
floor and one 254 -inch line from outlet on 
the tenth floor. These two lines, three 
lengths in all, connected to a Siamese con¬ 
nection in the eleventh floor, and a 3-inch 
line leading from same run up to the roof. 
One 254-inch line from outlet on the twelfth 
floor. These two lines, two lengths in all, 
connected to Siamese connection on the 
roof, and a 3-inch line connected to same. 

The 3-inch line previously referred to, 
and the 3-inch line last mentioned, con¬ 
nected to a 3-inch Siamese connection and 
a 3-inch line taken out of that, to the posi¬ 
tion on the roof from which the stream is 
to be directed. 

Proper size nozzle, according to the dis¬ 
tance, and a paradox pipe-holder to be used. 


285 







This movement would be done the same 
it operating a stream from the tenth floor 
of a 20-story building; the only difference 
would be that the lines would be stretched 
from the outlets above and below, and to 
equalize the amount of hose. 


RULES ON FRICTION LOSS. 

Three elements must be taken into con¬ 
sideration in figuring friction losses: The 
size of the hose, quality of the hose, and 
the quantity of water passing through the 
line or- nozzle. The Red Book furnished 
by. the Board of Fire Underwriters is a 
guide in figuring friction and capacity of 
nozzles and engines. 

To find the capacity of a lk 2 -inch nozzle 
at 80 pounds nozzle pressure: 

Square the nozzle diameter, multiply by 
the square root of the nozzle pressure; then 
multiply.by the barometric pressure. The 
result will be gallons discharged per min¬ 
ute. 

EXAMPLE: 

1.5 noz. 2.25 20.025 

1.5 8.9 sq. rt. N. P. 2.97 Bar. P. 

2.25 20.025 595 gals, per 

min. 

700 gallons flow divided by 2 equals 350 
gallons per min. from each engine. Fric¬ 
tion loss on 300 feet of 3-inch hose, with 
350 pound flow is: 

31.5 

54.2 10th floor 

14 1 length 2k2-inch 10th floor outlet 

10 Siamese conn, and 

60 at the nozzle 

170 lbs. at each engine 

Friction loss on Hose each 100 feet: 

2 k 2 -inch hose with 200 gals, flow: 10 lbs., 
and for each additional number of gallons 
up to 400 gallons add 1.3 lbs. 

1.3 10 lbs. for 200 gals. 

2.00 25 lbs. for next 200 gals. 


26.00 36 lbs. loss 

3-inch hose: 200 to 400 gals.: First 200 
gals.; 4 lbs.; for every 10 gals, up to 400 
gals, multiply by .5. 

400 to 700 gals.; 14 lbs. loss; for 400 gals, 

multiply by .8 for every 10 gals, over, up 

to 700. 

lbs. 

3k2-inch hose: first 500 gals., loss 9.5 

10 gals, up to 1200 gals., loss .6 


DISCIPLINE AND ADMINISTRA¬ 
TION. 

The definition of discipline is “strict obe¬ 
dience to lawful authority.” 


It is necessary that outside quarters be 
looked after, as well as inside. The charac¬ 
ter of the officer in charge can always be 
noted by the condition of the outside of 
quarters. A halyard on the flagpole and 
clean windows, sidewalks, and doors indi¬ 
cate good condition and qualities. 

Men to be in proper uniform in and out 
of quarters at all times, unless occupied 
with some work. Do not borrow money or 
ask any favors from the men or have them 
do work at your home. The necessity of 
properly receiving and carrying out all or¬ 
ders from superiors. Show good example 
to the men by conducting yourself in the 
proper manner at all times. The Captain’s 
policy should be carried out by the Lieu¬ 
tenant, and the Lieutenant should not be a 
“good fellow” at the expense of the Cap¬ 
tain. 

Proper entries to be made in company 
journal, and the same to be examined each 
day by the commanding officers. When 
taking charge of a new company, the com¬ 
manding officer will make out the meal 
list and regulate watch list. Committee 
work to be arranged so as to rotate each 
month. 

Break in horses and train them to take 
their proper places at the poles. Use 
proper method in hooking up horses, hav¬ 
ing them duck under the collars. The man 
locking the collar with the left hand, to put 
outside snap first with right hand and in¬ 
side snap last. To unlock, reverse the 
order. New men to be given personal in¬ 
structions in hitching up. Get the mem¬ 
bers of the company to understand the 
names and uses of all tools and implements 
and the tying of knots on hose and lad¬ 
ders, etc. 

Drill the company each week in their 
use. Company to be drilled at roll calls, 
in compliance with the rules and regula¬ 
tions. Proper salute to be given officers 
on street and all other places. Also drill 
company in “right and left face,” and 
“about face,” to have them in proper con¬ 
dition while attending funerals. 

Truck Companies, when working at fires, 
should ventilate buildings quickly and as¬ 
sist engine companies in “stretching-in.” 
While Engine Companies are working at 
fires, the personal attention of the officer 
in charge should be given to placing hose 
on wagons at all times. See that the butts 
have the proper washers in same and are 
connected up so that there will be no leaks. 

Hose should be coupled with the right 
hand and should be broken with the left 
hand. Try reducers and increasers on the 
last butt to see that they are O. K. 

Officers to inspect all buildings in their 
company district in order to become famil¬ 
iar with the stairs, appliances and other 
conditions of same. Keep a copy of all 
violations and recommendations that are 
forwarded, and also have an entry made 
in the company journal. All hydrants in 
company district should be inspected and 
oiled before the cold weather sets in; a re¬ 
liable man to be used for this purpose. 


286 








Respect must be shown to officers at all 
times, and they should not be spoken of 
disrespectfully by members of their com¬ 
panies or others. Officers should respect 
the men under their command, if they ex¬ 
pect the men to respect them. 

Care should be taken in handling streams 
of water, using tip on nozzles when operat¬ 
ing at fires in tenement houses, or when 
washing down, using only enough water to 
extinguish the fire. Put streams on ceiling 
and the water falling down will extinguish 
fire underneath 

When working from a ladder, try and 
make the floor as soon as possible, and 
the same when operating at a door. Get 
in on the floor with one foot, which will 
allow you to sweep the whole floor area. 
If the fire is too hot or smoky, put your 
head out of the door to get some fresh air. 


FIRES IN REFRIGERATING PLANTS. 

The principal element to be dealt with in 
cold-storage plants in fighting fires in such 
places is Ammonia Gas. In some cases of 
fire in these places get information from 
the man in charge of the plant. Locate 
him at once upon your arrival. Ascertain 
from him what part of the plant is on fire 
and the location of same. 

If there is no fire, only bursted ammonia 
pipes, and the ammonia is escaping, let the 
employees of the plant attend to that. 

In case of fire, find out if the pressure is 
equalized on the tanks. Ventilate building 
at once by opening up the skylight over the 
elevator shafts and open all windows, using 
ladders from the street or from rear of 
building, and open up the roof if necessary. 

Do not attempt to chop up the heavy 
planking on the roof; use crowbars and 
claw tools to get the first plank up and use 
the tools to pry up the rest of the planks. 
Then make an opening to room below by 
pushing down the ceiling, which is usually 
packed with sawdust or other material. If 
a large amount of ammonia gases are es¬ 
caping, keep the men out of the building. 

It is important for company officers in 
whose districts these plants are located, to 
make regular inspections of them and as¬ 
certain the different methods used in mak¬ 
ing cold air and supplying same to other 
buildings; also the different valves neces¬ 
sary to control the flow of these gases in 
case of fire or other causes of danger. He 
should become familiar with everything in 
and about the plant in order to be guided 
in handling any emergency that may arise 
in these plants, and such information as he 
obtains should be forwarded to the chief 
officers, which will guide both him and 
them in safeguarding the men and help to 
extinguish the fire. 

When necessary to enter these plants 
when ammonia gases are escaping, use a 
smoke mask. It is absolutely necessary for 
the man who enters the building with the 
smoke mask to know what he has to do 
and be familiar with the plant and know 


the proper valves and their exact locations 
and how to close them. Great danger may 
arise by closing or opening the wrong 
valves, by causing great pressure on tanks 
and causing an explosion. 

At the Chambers Street fire many fire¬ 
men were overcome by gases originating 
in a paper box warehouse in the base¬ 
ment and first floor and burned through 
to the cold-storage plant above. Brine was 
used to generate cold air in these pipes. 
The burning of these pipes, together with 
the bursting of the gas pipes, combined to¬ 
gether with the heavy smoke, caused all 
the trouble. 

There is a very dangerous cold-storage 
plant on Harrison Street, near Hudson 
Street, taking in 13 buildings and supply¬ 
ing cold air through pipes to over 170 other 
buildings in that district. Each supply pipe 
has a controlling shut-off valve on the 
street front and can be shut off in case of 
fire in any one of these buildings. In the 
arches of the old Brooklyn Bridge in Man¬ 
hattan, there is a cold-storage plant for fish, 
taking in nine arches. Each arch is con¬ 
trolled by valves shutting off the flow of 
brine from each. 

The brine system is used for making 
cooled air in that plant, in which there are 
deep cellars for the storage of fish. There 
is no opening in the roof of this plant, the 
roof being the roadway of the bridge. 
There are windows on one side of this 
plant, but they are being taken out; that is 
to say, the wooden framework around the 
windows, and fireproof material is to re¬ 
place it. In consequence of this there is 
little danger of fire there; in fact, there is 
very little danger of fire starting in any of 
these cold-storage plants from within, on 
account of everything being wet or damp: 
the only cause would be from communicat¬ 
ing from the outside. 

The most dangerous gases from these 
plants are Carbonic and Hydric Gases. 
There is no odor from these gases. In 
case of a leak they drive away the oxygen 
in the air and kill instantly. They are heav¬ 
ier than air and hang close to the floor. 

The same gases are to be found in wells 
that are unused and also in caves. It takes 
1,000 pounds per square inch of pressure to 
bring this gas back to liquid form. 

In ammonia plants the principal agent is 
ammonia gases. Do not try to force your¬ 
self or others into these places, but keep 
on the outside. Compressed air is used in 
the Navy Yard cold-storage plant and is 
known as the “Allen’’ system. 

The dangers to be encountered in plants 
of this character are the explosions. A 
temperature of 65 degrees below zero is 
carried here. 

Brine Chloride of Calcium is the best 
system. This does not freeze at 65 degrees 
below zero. Salt Brine bursts pipes. It 
freezes at 5 degrees below zero. Would 
recommend automatic sprinklers in these 
plants. 

It is also necessary for officers to know 
other dangerous buildings in their districts 


287 



that would cause a spread of fire by being 
exposed to other buildings. There is one 
building in Duane Street or Thomas Street, 
Manhattan, 50 feet wide and 200 feet in 
depth, about 100 feet west of Broadway, 
with cellar and sub-cellar connecting to a 
row of buildings on Broadway. A fire start¬ 
ing in this building would rapidly communi¬ 
cate to the Broadway buildings. Using the 
dry automatic sprinkler system or any dry- 
valve system, would greatly assist the Fire¬ 
men in extinguishing fires in cold-storage 
plants; and also these old structures could 
be altered to make them safe by building 
ventilating shafts in the center of the 
building shaft, to be built of brick and 
communicating with each other, covered on 
roof with skylight or hatches, battened 
down, as on ships, in cases of tanks explod¬ 
ing and causing gases to escape. Use lad¬ 
ders to reach windows and roofs to ven¬ 
tilate. Also use doors from adjoining 
buildings, where they sometimes lead to. 

If working from a roof at a fire of this 
kind use cellar pipes and distributors by 
lowering them through openings in roof. 
In case of leaks, keep men outside and let 
the employees of the plant shut off valves 
and stop the gases from escaping. These 
plants provide their employees with smoke- 
mask equipment. The reason that knowl¬ 
edge of the different valves is necessary in 
shutting off or opening same is because 
each degree of heat generated increases the 
pressure 5 pounds. 


OIL FIRES. 

The first thing for the F. D. to do on its 
arrival at an oil fire is to get the man in 
charge of the plant, the superintendent or 
other employee, whoever he may happen 
to be, and find out from him what he has 
done before the arrival of the F. D., and 
also ascertain from him any dangerous con¬ 
ditions that may exist. Do not throw 
water in any of the oil tanks. If this is 
done the water will sink to the bottom of 
the tank and will cause an overflow, and 
the burning oil, being on top, will spread 
throughout the plant. Keep streams of 
water on the outside of the tank to cool off 
and let the pile burn itself out. Employees 
in the meantime will be drawing off the oil 
to other tanks distant from those on fire. 

Fire also takes place in the part of oil 
plants where the soldering of cans is done. 
Steam jets are used in this place to extin¬ 
guish fire. Doors of this part of the plant 
should not be opened when this part is on 
fire, but the streams of water should be 
put under the doors, and confine the fire 
to the point of starting. Opening the 
doors allows the fumes to escape and 
spread rapidly to other parts of the build¬ 
ing or plant, and would be very dangerous 
to men and property. It is necessary to 
know these plants and the precautions to 
be used. This can be obtained by making 
inspections of the plants and ascertaining 
the facts from the employees. 


The Standard Oil Company’s employees 
extinguish fires in tanks and stills by the 
use of a chemical compound that is 
pumped into the top of the tanks and stills 
which are on fire and which forms a blan¬ 
ket and extinguishes the fire. This com¬ 
pound, when pumped into the top of a 
tank, spreads a foam on same and smothers 
the fire. 

In cases of fires in buildings in oil plants 
used for storage of cans and for shipping 
purposes, ventilate the building and do not 
allow the gases to accumulate and cause an 
explosion when the fire hits it. 

Be careful in entering these buildings 
with a lighted lamp where vapors and gases 
are escaping until the building has been 
thoroughly ventilated and the fire is extin¬ 
guished. An enclosed Electric Light should 
be used. There is not so very much dan¬ 
ger in handling these fires if they are un¬ 
derstood. 

In handling streams, a quick movement 
of the stream over the tops of these cans 
when they are burning will extinguish the 
flame. Some of these buildings are not 
provided with proper stills, and danger is 
caused by gasoline flowing out of the 
building and setting fire to other parts of 
the plant. There are filling machines in 
these buildings used for the purpose of 
filling 5-gallon cans; they fill 32 cans at 
once. The danger of fire here is caused by 
the use of soldering irons while soldering 
the caps on the cans. 

In cases of fire in stills, keep same cool by 
playing streams on the outside, while the 
employees draw off the contents through 
a cooling system to other tanks in distant 
parts of the yard; also direct streams on 
adjoining tanks and keep them cool. Take 
the advice of the employees or other per¬ 
sons in charge of plant. 

Covers of tanks blowing up indicate fire 
in same. Do not put water on burning oil, 
as that will cause it to spread. Avoid open¬ 
ing doors of these buildings that may be 
close to burning tanks or stills, unless you 
have a good knowledge of the plant. 

Do not use lighted lamps in cleaning or 
dyeing establishments. Officers to have 
charge and full control of the men under 
them at fires. Have them near you at all 
times and do not allow them to straggle 
around. 


OPERATING HYDRAULIC WATER 
TOWER. 

Stretch two or more lines into 3-inch in¬ 
let connections. These are six 3-inch inlet 
connections on tower supplying the mast, 
and three 3-inch inlets supplying the deck 
pipe independently (that is, on water tower 
No. 1). 

To raise the tower get 125 pounds water 
pressure on gauge; open controlling valve 
with the right hand and allow the air in 
the cylinder behind the piston to escape; at 
the same time, with the left hand, open 
the controlling valve to start water in 


288 




cylinders This pressure of water on the 

to 01 ^ 11 / ° f t J le P lst °ns forces the pistons 
to the rear of the cylinders, and the rod 
connected to same in the tower engages 

™Lf°t\u 0n * the quadrant and causes the 
mast ot the tower, which is lying in a hori¬ 
zontal position, to raise to a vertical posi¬ 
tion. ^ 


Two locks are used to lock the mast in 
position* and prevent it from falling back, 
i here are guides on the other side to pre- 
vent it from going forward. The pistons 
for a mders also prevent it from going 

Locks are placed on the axles on each 
side, taking the weight of the tower off the 
forward springs. Tormentors are also used 
to relieve the strain while the tower is 
throwing water from the nozzle. They are 
placed from the mast to the street and act 
as props for the mast. 

There is a 4-inch pipe inside the mast 
connected by a 35-foot length of hose to 
the reservoir under the tower. This pipe 
can be extended to any required length by 
means of cables running in blocks from the 
top of the mast and attached to a drum 
with handles on each side of the platform 
for that purpose. The hose takes the place 
of the pipe in the mast as the same extends 
in the air. 

A gate valve with a large wheel controls 
the passage of water from the reservoir to 
the tower. 

The flow of water is controlled from the 
nozzle by means of a wheel on the mast 
which is attached to a square rod which 
goes into a pipe having a square inlet. This 
in turn is attached to a gearing of cogs, 
which, by turning to right or left, directs 
the stream from nozzle in any direction 
towards which the operator desires. A 
small cable over the top of the nozzle and 
running down the back of the mast to a 
drum near the platform controls the raising 
of the nozzle to an upright position, while 
another cable attached to the underside of 
the nozzle and running down the front of 
the mast enables the operator to lower the 
nozzle. There are dogs locking these ca¬ 
bles on the drums, which have to be re¬ 
leased when extending the telescope pipe 
to allow the cables to play out as the pipe 
extends upwards. 

In lowering the tower after working, 
shut down the lines that are connected into 
same, lower the telescope by releasing the 
dogs on the drums of the large cable, and 
allow the pipe to come down on its own 
weight, holding down on the handles and 
pulling the hose out from underneath. 
Close the gate valve leading into the tower, 
start up one line and get 125 pounds on the 
gauge. Open the controlling valve on the 
left-hand side on the top and fill the cylin¬ 
ders (they are drained in winter to prevent 
freezing while the tower is in operation). 

Open the controlling valve with the right 
hand on top to allow the water pressure 
in cylinders at the rear of the pistons. At 
the same time open the controlling valve 
at the bottom with the left hand to let the 


water in cylinders discharge and allow the 
to come forward in the cylinders, 
ihe valve on the right hand is then 
closed and the tower then comes down of 
its own weight, the water being discharged 
va ^ ve on the left-hand bottom 
side, allowing the piston to come to the 
front of the cylinders. There is a pipe 
leading to the top of the mast with per¬ 
forations near the top and an attachment 
for thaw hose at the bottom for thawing 
ice which may form at the top of the tower 
in cold weather. 


SPRING RAISING AND MANUAL 
ASSIST TOWERS. 

At the quarters of H. & L. No. 24, Water 
Tower No. 3 is located. This tower is 
raised by means of compressed springs in 
the cylinders. When down on the bed it 
can be raised to an angle of 45 degrees by 
releasing a clutch which locks the same. 
The tower is then raised the rest of the 
way by means of gears. Extension pipe 
and nozzle control and supply inlets are 
same as on the Hydraulic Tower, except 
that the gate valve controlling the water 
into the tower is equipped with a pilot 
valve which assists in opening the same 
against a large pressure. Two J^-inch 
pipes are used to thaw out this tower in¬ 
stead of one on the other, causing a better 
circulation of steam. This is the better 
system of the two. 


CONSTRUCTION AND CARE OF AP¬ 
PARATUS HOUSES. 

The responsibility of the care of the ap¬ 
paratus houses is on the Captain, who is 
required and should be guided by the 
Rules and Regulations in Sections 44 and 
105 and others. Specific cases are men¬ 
tioned in these rules, but they can be ap¬ 
plied to any case that may present itself. 

Quarters must be kept in proper condi¬ 
tion, and repairs made when necessary, to 
avoid decay from use or defects in mate¬ 
rial. Requisitions should be forwarded at 
once, specifying in detail the repairs re¬ 
quired. In passing the quarters of fire 
companies, the condition can be noticed at 
a glance. Old houses in some cases look 
spick and span, while on the other hand 
practically new houses look dirty and are 
in poor condition, due to neglect on the 
part of the officers in charge to keep same 
in good condition. Neat and clean quar¬ 
ters show that the officer in charge has the 
interest of the Department and the welfare 
of his men at heart. 

Each material that goes into the making 
of a house has its own particular enemy. 
For instance, wood will rot if not kept 
painted and dry; concrete when it begins 
to crack needs repairing. If not properly 
attended to, it gets worse, and for this 
reason it is necessary for the Command- 


289 




ing Officer to act and note the defects as 
fast as they appear, so that they can be 
remedied at once before any greater dam¬ 
age is done by allowing it to pass unno¬ 
ticed. Requisitions should be forwarded 
for those repairs when the defects begin to 
show themselves. 

Proper and systematic methods should 
be used in keeping quarters clean, so as to 
have the required results, and at the same 
time not put the burden on the members 
of the company by having this work inter¬ 
fere with their rest and hours of recrea¬ 
tion. Justice must be done in handling 
men, and no favors should be shown to 
some and antagonism towards others. All 
members should be treated alike, and the 
work to be so divided that every member 
will do his share, making it as easy as pos¬ 
sible for all concerned. 

Fire Engine should be in charge of men 
knowing the construction of same, and the 
house should be in charge of men knowing 
construction of same. Changes of tem¬ 
perature affect cement and concrete. Elec¬ 
trical fixtures break every once in a while, 
and very easily, and the men should un¬ 
derstand their construction so as to avoid 
breaking them while they are being han¬ 
dled. 

Commanding Officers should know how 
to inspect concrete when repairs are being 
made in their quarters, in order to see that 
the proper amount of cement is used, as 
cement is the most expensive article used 
in making concrete. This is the material 
the contractors will most likely fail to put 
in the proper amount of, in order to in¬ 
crease their profits on the contract. Care 
in mixing of sand and broken stone are 
necessary, and they should be properly pro¬ 
portioned, so as to make the best quality 
of concrete. Sand should be spread out. 
Then the cement and stone and water ap¬ 
plied. Then turned over and mixed until 
the whole mass is of the same color. 

The 42 new fire houses are all built of 
fire-resisting construction, three stories and 
cellar, with the exception of one. Some 
have frame windows and doors, while oth¬ 
ers have metal windows and doors. The 
construction of a fire house looks simple, 
but it is not so simple, when we find out 
the different difficulties to be met before 
the work is actually completed. 

First, the plans must be submitted to the 
Art Commission, for them to pass upon 
the design of the exterior construction. 
Second, the Building Department must 
pass upon the strength of the different ma¬ 
terials used in the construction, in compli¬ 
ance with the existing laws and ordinances. 
Third, the Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau 
must pass on the installation of the tele¬ 
graph cables, wires and instruments. 
Fourth, Division of Buildings of the F. D. 
to pass on the interior construction and the 
installation of lighting and heating appara¬ 
tus. Fifth, the Division of Combustibles 
to pass on the storage of tanks for the 
combustible oils used in propelling the ap¬ 
paratus. Sixth, the Board of Estimate and 


Apportionment, as to issuance of bonds to 
pay for the construction of building. Sev¬ 
enth, the Law Department of the Finance 
Department, as to the legality of the con¬ 
tracts and estimates of contractors. 

These new houses are virtually garages, 
on account of the housing of automobiles 
and the storage of gasoline. On this ac¬ 
count it is very necessary that the heating 
apparatus and system be properly installed, 
by placing same in a remote part of the 
cellar, separated from the garage by un¬ 
pierced walls, and all openings, stairways, 
etc., protected by self-closing fireproof 
doors to prevent gasoline vapors flashing 
back through these openings to the heater 
and causing fire. It is necessary to guard 
against these dangers with the new com¬ 
bination Steam Engine and Motor Tractor 
installed in these houses, with its heater 
connections supplying steam to the engine 
coming up from the cellar through the ap¬ 
paratus floor. 

These holes through which the pipes pass 
have to be properly arranged with stuffing 
boxes, and the pipes made smooth so as to 
pass downward in the floor and remain 
tight, so as not to allow any gasoline va¬ 
pors which hang close to the floor and 
might follow the heater pipes back to the 
furnace and cause a fire. 

Tanks for the storage of gasoline are 
installed in the cellar, two feet below the 
bottom of the cellar floor, embodied in 
cement and equipped with vent pipes to the 
air through the roof. There is also'a fill- 
pipe to the sidewalk and a draw-off pipe to 
the apparatus floor where the pump is lo¬ 
cated, and hose attached to same for fill¬ 
ing the tanks of the apparatus. 

Hose shuts off automatically in the event 
of the apparatus having to respond to an 
alarm of fire while the tank is being filled. 
All that is necessary in a case like that 
is to detach the hose from the apparatus 
tank and lay it on the floor. There would 
be no danger of the oil continuing to flow 
through the hose were a person to neglect 
to shut it off. A Drain or Oil Separator 
is used to separate gasoline from flowing 
into the sewer. Pails of sand are used to 
absorb oil and extinguish fires. 

Lights should not be lit while the appa¬ 
ratus are being filled with gasoline, and 
no gasoline should be carried in open cans 
or used to wash the apparatus. Cans with 
covers for keeping oily waste are supplied. 
No smoking allowed, and signs to that 
effect should be conspicuously displayed. 
Requisitions when forwarded for repairs 
should be concise and clear to assist clerks 
in making out orders for repairs. 

After carefully going over the various 
types of motor apparatus on the market, 
the CHRISTIE FRONT DRIVE TRAC¬ 
TOR was the one adopted for propelling 
the old-style reciprocating engines and 
boilers for pumping water to extinguish 
fires. The steam boiler is indispensable at 
the present time, on account of ability to 
thaw out frozen hydrants, which the pres¬ 
ent motor pumping apparatus or engines 


are unable to do. With the CH'RT'sTttt 
™ONT DRIVE TRACTOR, fh^olfbm 
valuable pumps now in service can be util- 
ized witlioirt much expense in motorizing 
the Department Contracts were given for 
28 engmes with the CHRISTIE FRONT 
DRIVE, 31 Hose Wagons and Combina- 
tion Chemical Engines, and 22 H & L 
Trucks, all motor driven. 


MARINE FIRES. 

When answering an alarm of fire with 

c [t is necess ary to locate the 

hre. When in a ship, locate the part of the 
ship the fire is in and ascertain from the 
Captain of the ship the kind of materials 
burning and the nature of the cargo. Have 
him furnish you with the diagram of the 
decks and the location of each hold below 
the decks. 

In case of a fire in the lower hold of a 
ship, remove hatch covers until the hold 
is reached where the fire is burning and 
have the line charged. Have the men bring 
out the cargo from the hold and extinguish 
fire with stream of water. 

When heat and smoke prevent this meth¬ 
od, it may be necessary to flood the hold. 

Most ships are divided up into compart¬ 
ments, and each compartment has water¬ 
tight doors which can be closed from the 
deck or engine room. Each compartment 
has a ventilator running up to the main 
deck. Smoke and heat coming from the 
ventilator indicate the location of the fire. 
When the doors, dead-lights and port-holes 
are closed, stretch 2 or 3 lines with open 
butts, place them in the ventilators and 
start the water at about 60 pounds on the 
boat pumps until the hold is flooded. Then 
have the Engineer start his pumps and 
pump the water out of the hold. After the 
fire is out, open the hatchway, ventilate the 
hold and overhaul the cargo, if necessary. 

It is very important to be sure that the 
water-tight doors on each side of the hold 
where the fire is are closed. If they are 
not, the water pumped in will flood the rest 
of the ship and do a great deal of damage. 
It is necessary, when flooding the hold of 
a ship, to extinguish a fire between decks, 
to have the Engineers of the ship fill the 
ballast tanks to prevent the ship from list¬ 
ing and turning over. 

A fire that has extended through the bot¬ 
tom of a ship can be extinguished by flood¬ 
ing the ship from the bottom by opening 
the SEA-COCKS. This will cause the ship 
to fill with water and sink. Before doing 
this, soundings should be taken of the bot¬ 
tom to ascertain if it is mud or rock. A 
ship sinking in mud will find its own bed, 
but a ship sinking and hitting rock will 
turn over. A ship that has been flooded 
and allowed to sink in mud can be pumped 
out and easily raised without much damage 
or expense. 

When entering the hold of a ship when 
the fire is between decks, one line should 
be brought in first and another line to fol¬ 


low up. Remove the cargo to the upper 
deck. 


COMMERCIAL FIRES. 

Fires in Mercantile Buildings carrying a 
large stock of inflammable material, also 
the material of which the buildings are con¬ 
structed, and the large number of persons 
employed in these buildings, are very dan¬ 
gerous to occupants as well as to Firemen. 
The large open floor spaces and narrow 
streets cause these fires to spread very 
quickly. Elevator shafts, vent and light 
shafts, stairways, well holes, etc., cause 
fires to spread upward in these buildings. 

The Chas. Broadway Rouss Building is a 
12-story fireproof building, 100 by 200 feet, 
carrying $1,000,000 worth of stock. The H. 
B. Claflm Building, at Worth Street, is 6 
stories in height,»200 by 400 feet, non-fire- 
proof, and carries about $6,000,000 worth of 
stock in dry goods. There are several 
other important buildings in this district 
where large stocks and a large floor area 
and non-fireproof construction would make 
a rapid spread of fire. 

Try and get the first line stretched at the 
fire to reach the seat of the fire. This line 
very often saves entire buildings from go¬ 
ing up in smoke. Effort and perservance 
is necessary to reach the seat of the fire 
before it spreads. Get there quickly and 
do not delay in sending for additional as¬ 
sistance if you find you cannot hold it. 
Have the truck companies ventilate to al¬ 
low engine companies to enter the building 
and put water on the seat of the fire. 

In these buildings stocked with Dry 
Goods, the stock absorbs water and adds 
greatly to the weight on the floors and 
causes , the floors to collapse. Stock piled 
up at the windows prevents water from 
streams reaching the interior of the build¬ 
ing where the fire is burning. 

Notice where the water is reaching the 
fire, and see where it is going to, whether 
it is running off or lodging on the floors. 
If so, it may cause the collapse of the floors 
on which it is lodged. 

Guard against floors being overloaded 
when entering underneath with your men 
to overhaul. Be careful and examine floors. 
Look out for plate glass and dead-lights. 
Glass is very often broken during a fire 
and leaves holes in the floor through which 
men may fall in the dark and become in¬ 
jured. Keep a sharp lookout for your men 
and have them with you at all times. 

Notify the Chief Officer when you see 
fire going up a shaft, or into the rear or 
side of a building. Do not depend on some¬ 
one else seeing it, or upon someone else 
telling you. You tell him without delay. 
Notify him of any danger you may see or 
hear about. 

In making a cellar, it is often necessary 
to take a great deal of punishment. When 
you find that you have to back out, send 
for help by sending a 2nd or 3rd alarm; 
do not take chances on the fire not amount- 


291 



ing to much. Be sure and connect to per¬ 
forated pipes in cellar or sub-cellar when 
you first arrive and find that same is nec¬ 
essary. When you find it necessary to con¬ 
nect standpipes in the adjoining build¬ 
ings, truck companies in ventilating build¬ 
ings should use house-lines from adjoin¬ 
ing buildings from upper stories, into win¬ 
dows or roofs of buildings on fire. Use the 
ladder from the next building to reach win¬ 
dows in shafts and lines to be taken down. 
Same to extinguish fire on floors that can¬ 
not be reached in any other way. 

Cellar pipes to be used on roofs of build¬ 
ings the same as they are used on the side¬ 
walk into the cellar. Holes to be made in 
the .sidewalks of the buildings on fire by 
use of a battering ram, and distributors to 
be placed on end of hose attached to 
straight section of sub-cellar pipe does very 
good work at times, and the men do not 
have to stand over the hole taking punish¬ 
ment. 

Use roof ropes to pull hose up 3 or 4 
floors, and avoid water damage through the 
leaking of hose or “butts” in the interior 
of building. Shut off the sprinklers on 
floors and under tanks when the fire is out. 
Close valves on standpipes that are found 
open upon arrival at fires. Sometimes it is 
necessary for Lieutenants to act when at 
fires, and there are no Captains or Chief 
Officer present, on account of other fires. 
It is necessary that the Lieutenant be able 
to cope with the situation by holding the 
fire and preventing its spread, by the use 
of all the appliances at hand and by send¬ 
ing out additional alarms. 

It is necessary to go back to the engines 
or hydrants to see that the Engineer is giv¬ 
ing proper attention to his engine or hy¬ 
drant, as the case may be, and is supplying 
a proper stream. 

Avoid breaking glass when the fire is 
out; open windows to ventilate. Do not 
hit unprotected columns or girders with 
streams of water when they are heated, 
for they will buckle and collapse. Use a 
35-foot ladder to open doors and windows 
of areaways from the yard or street. Avoid 
breaking dead-lights on sidewalks in front 
of buildings, especially at entrances or 
doors leading to buildings where men pass 
in and out. The men are apt to fall into 
the cellar and be injured or killed. 


VENTILATION. 

There is a standing order in some Bat¬ 
talions about ventilating by Truck Com¬ 
panies; also about the careless breaking of 
glass in buildings. Now, in the face of 
these orders, at times the opening up of 
doors and windows would cause a draft 
and make the fire spread. At times Engine 
Companies are delayed in getting water 
from hydrants on account of same being 
frozen and for other causes. In such a 
case it would not be advisable to open 
doors and windows until the line is 
stretched and the water is started. 


Also about breaking glass when it is nec¬ 
essary to ventilate the roof by skylight that 
cannot be removed. Do not hesitate to 
break glass in same, and also in windows 
that are nailed or have broken sash cords. 
It is necessary at times at cellar fires to 
ventilate the 1st floor to allow same to be 
entered by men to cut holes in th'e floors 
to operate cellar pipes. Often large plate 
glass windows have to be broken, but very 
often ventilation can be made by making 
a large hole in the top of the glass with a 
hook, and thus save part of the glass which 
can be cut down by the glass company and 
used again. 

In a tenement house fire, one or two men 
can ventilate the roof by opening the bulk¬ 
heads or covers of scuttles and removing 
skylights. A 6-foot hook over the top of 
the roof can very often be used to open 
the windows on the top floor in the front 
where there are no fire escapes, or in courts 
and shafts. Fire escapes can be used in 
the rear to open top floor windows in order 
to ventilate the building. 

When the skylight over the stair hall is 
too small to carry off the heat and smoke 
and it is necessary to make a larger hole to 
prevent the spread on the top floor, strip 
off the tin and take up the roof boards. 
Pull up the whole strip and as many as are 
necessary to equal the area of the stair 
shaft opening. Where there is lath and 
plaster underneath, push same down with 
a hook. This is to be done when the fire 
has spread under the ceiling on the top 
floor. Strip the tin off the roof by using 
a tin cutter or the back of axes and 6-foot 
hooks. Do not cut the roof boards, but 
get one board up with the claw tool, or 
hook and pry up the rest, pulling up the 
whole board and then pushing down the 
ceiling. This will ventilate the whole 
building very quickly. 

Use ladders from adjoining buildings to 
reach the roofs of isolated tall buildings, 
by taking roof ropes and hose rollers to 
adjoining roof, playing out the rope. Have 
the men on the street raise the ladder 
against the building; one man to tie two 
half-hitches and a bowline on the 14th 
round of ladder from the top, using about 
2 y 2 fathoms of rope for tying the knot. 
The men on the roof will then pull up the 
ladder to the roof and raise it in the usual 
way against the wall of the adjoining build¬ 
ing. Always have a roof rope handy when 
working on the roof of a building and 
when opening up a roof. Work with the 
wind at your back.* 

In opening iron shutters on the rear of a 
building or on windows, always begin far¬ 
thest away and work towards the fire es¬ 
cape or ladder, which ever you are using. 
Begin at the top and work down. Do not 
cut off your escape; always keep this in 
mind. When on a smoky floor, remember 
that the cracks in the floor boards run 
towards the window. Always follow the 
line of hose to reach the street or hallway 
when you have lost your bearings on a 
smoky floor or in a smoky building. 


292 



T °a ve . nt j 1 , ate th e front of a building, use 
the fly ladder or the aerial truck to break 
the windows, as it can be shifted from win¬ 
dow to window and allowed to drop 
against windows and break sash and all 
Great difficulty is often experienced in 
ventilating the upper apartment of a du¬ 
plex apartment. This is new style, high- 
class apartment house construction, con¬ 
sisting of floors comprising a suite, 4 or 5 
rooms being on one floor, and same on the 
other floors. 


The entrance to these apartments is by 
means of elevators and stairways in front 
for tenants, and elevator and stairway in 
rear for servants, etc. These elevators and 
stairways lead to rooms in the lower apart¬ 
ments. A separate interior stairway con¬ 
nects to the rooms on the upper floor. 
This stairway is the only means of com¬ 
municating to the upper story, and when a 
fire starts in the upper story it is very hard 
to ventilate it. A scaling ladder placed out 
of the window of the lower apartment and 
raised to the window above; then a quick 
twist of the hook of the ladder will break 
the windows, frame and glass. An im¬ 
proved tool for this purpose will be in¬ 
stalled and will greatly assist in ventilat¬ 
ing these floors' in duplex apartments. 


HIGH-PRESSURE PUMPING STATION 

At the foot of Gansevoort and West Sts. 

The whole class assembled there under 
the direction of Deputy Chief Maher, and 
the following facts were obtained: 

The High-Pressure System protects the 
districts from Maiden Lane north to Hous¬ 
ton St., and from Park Row, Nassau St. 
and the Bowery to the East River with 
a Duplex System of Mains. Electrically 
controlled gates at the intersection of 
Houston St. and Bowery, and another at 
Chestnut and New Chambers St. From 
Chambers to 23rd St. and 24th St., Irving 
Place to Lexington Ave., 14th St., 3rd 
Ave.; Bowery and Park Row to the North 
River is the Single Main System. It can 
also be used about 500 feet outside of the 
district. It comprises about 100 miles of 
heavy (extra) cast iron mains from 12 to 
24 inches in diameter, with 8-inch hydrant 
branches and two pumping stations, so lo¬ 
cated that they will never be in the center 
of a conflagration. At the present time the 
pumping stations have a combined capacity 
of over 45,000 gallons per minute at a pres¬ 
sure of 300 pounds per square inch and 
65,000 gallons per minute at a pressure of 
125 pounds per square inch. 

Source of Supply. 

The supply of water is ordinarily ob¬ 
tained from the water mains of the city, 
which deliver the water to the stations at a 
pressure of from 14 to 40 pounds per square 
inch, depending upon the demand for water 
in the district. Both of the pumping sta¬ 
tions are located close to tidal water, and 
connections are made so that the sea-water 


can be obtained in case of any difficulty 
with the Croton supply. 

The advantage of Croton water over salt 
water is that it is less likely to injure 
goods, and as the amount required for fire 
purposes is so small a percentage of the 
amount used for daily purposes, it makes 
no difference from either financial or insur¬ 
ance standpoints. 

The general impression that an enor¬ 
mous quantity of water is required for fire 
purposes is erroneous, as shown by the fig¬ 
ures furnished by the F. D. for the Bor¬ 
oughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn for the 
years 1900 to 1904 inclusive. These give 
the average quantity of water used for fire 
purposes during these years. In the Bor¬ 
ough of Manhattan, it was 74 million gal¬ 
lons per year, of which over 31 million gal¬ 
lons were salt water. The daily average of 
Croton water for the above 5 years was 
117 thousand gallons for fire purposes. For 
the Borough of Brooklyn, the average for 
5 years was 43 million gallons, of which 
over 19 million gallons were salt water. 
The daily average, therefore, for fire pur¬ 
poses was 67 thousand gallons. 

During these 5 years the greatest quan¬ 
tity used in the Borough of Manhattan was 
92 million gallons in the year of 1901, 
which includes over 65 million gallons of 
salt water and leaving only 29 million gal¬ 
lons of fresh water. Even if this quantity 
be made 100 million gallons per year, by 
comparing it with the daily average con¬ 
sumption of about 300 thousand gallons, it 
will be seen that the amount for all pur¬ 
poses in 24 hours formed, therefore, an in¬ 
significant percentage of the total consump¬ 
tion. The quantity used for fire purposes, 
1-10 of 1 per cent., may, therefore, be ne¬ 
glected as a factor in determining the wa¬ 
ter supply of the city. 

The capacity of both pumping stations at 
the present time is 45 thousand gallons at 
300 pounds pressure, or 64 million, 800 thou¬ 
sand gallons per day. By installing 2 ad¬ 
ditional pumps and motors in each station, 
for which provisions are made, this capacity 
can be increased in round numbers to 84 
million, 960 thousand gallons per day at 300 
pounds pressure. 

The 2 stations with the motor installed 
have a total capacity in excess of that of all 
the fire engines in the Boroughs of Man¬ 
hattan, Bronx and Brooklyn combined when 
working under normal conditions. This 
comparison assumes that the engines are 
working on one line of 2j4-inch hose, say 
500 feet long, under a pressure of 200 
pounds, and with a capacity as printed in 
the official reports of the F. D. It should 
be remembered that provisions are made for 
the installation of another station. 

Motive Power. 

The power for driving the pumps is trans¬ 
mitted electrically from several of the light¬ 
ing and power systems located on Man¬ 
hattan Island. As the stations of these 
systems are widely separated, and any or 
all of them are available for motive power, 


293 



the system of electrical transmission was 
considered more reliable in the case of a 
large and general conflagration than power 
plants maintained directly at the pumping 
stations. Each pumping station is provided 
with two independent sets of transmission 
lines, located as far as possible beyond the 
danger of injury in case of a great con¬ 
flagration. 

The cost of maintaining or erecting an 
independent system of plants would have 
entailed a great annual expense; conse¬ 
quently, the present arrangement is advan¬ 
tageous from a financial standpoint. In 
addition to the charge per kilowatt of 1^2 
cents for current delivered, there is a 
charge of $80,000 for reserving right for use 
of the generating machinery for the pur¬ 
pose. 

The total cost of the maintenance of the 
system is estimated at $170,000 a year, 
which amount it is believed will be saved 
many times over by the reduction of insur¬ 
ance premiums now paid in the protected 
districts. 

The electrical current is supplied at a 
pressure of 6,600 volts from the station at 
the N. Y. Edison Co., at Duane St.; 7,600 
kilowatts from the East 12th St. Station; 
1,700 kilowatts from the West 26th St. Sta¬ 
tion; 400 kilowatts from the 140th St. Sta¬ 
tion; 4,000 kilowatts from the waterside sta¬ 
tion; Nos. 1 and 2, 196 and 700 kilowatts. 

In addition there are feeders extending to 
the Brooklyn Edison Co. stations which 
can be called upon in cases of emergency. 
The pumping stations are connected to 18 
sub-stations, equipped with rotary con¬ 
verters and storage batteries aggregating a 
capacity of 12,400 ampere hours at 135 volts, 
which is in reserve. Each station is con¬ 
nected with the main station of the Edison 
Co. by 250,000 C. M. three-phase cables laid 
in ducts and two independent reserve feed¬ 
ers extended to the sub-station system of 
the Edison Co., and with these precautions 
interruptions of the power system would 
seem a physical impossibility. 

Distribution System. 

The pipes and castings were tested at a 
pressure of 450 pounds. The specified leak¬ 
age in a ten-minute test was at the rate of 
4 gallons in 24 hours for each lineal foot of 
pipe joined, equivalent to a leakage of 457,- 
000 gallons for the whole system in a 
period of 24 hours, which is over 1 per cent, 
of the total specified dumping capacity now 
installed. The actual leakage at the test 
was at the rate of 264,000 gallons per 
day. Considering the difficulties of con¬ 
struction of the High-Pressure System, the 
results obtained were remarkable and re¬ 
flect great credit on the Engineer in charge. 
The results are such that were a block on 
fire, 60 streams of water of 500 gallons per 
minute each, or the full capacity of both 
stations, could be concentrated on that 
block; with lengths of hose not more than 
400 or 500 feet, assuming that 3-inch hose 
would be used with lj^-inch nozzles. 

The layout of the mains at the stations, 


both for suction and for delivery, is on the 
loop system; that is to say, the supply can 
be taken from either one; of the two mains, 
and the discharge is through either one or 
both of the mains. With this system, even 
the breakdown of one of the discharge 
mains at the station would only slightly 
reduce the pressure at the fire, and would 
not affect the capacity of the station, as the 
pumps would be capable of forcing their 
full discharge through the short length of 
a single 24-inch main, made necessary by 
such an accident. 

The mains are of cast iron ball and spigot 
pipe, of a thickness given in the following 


table: 

Size of 

Thick¬ 

Unit Tensile 

Factor 

Pipe 

ness 

Strength with 

of 

Inches 

Inches 

300 lbs. Pressure 

Safety 

24 

m 

1920 

10.4 

20 

l H 

2000 

10.0 

Size of 

Thick¬ 

Unit Tensile 

Factor 

Pipe 

ness 

Strength with 

of 

Inches 

Inches 

300 lbs. Pressure 

Safety 

16 

VA 

19000 

10.4 

12 

1 

18000 

11.1 

8 

Vs 

1371 

14.6 


Supply Piping. 

At the South St. Station the fresh water 
is supplied from two 30-inch lines, one con¬ 
nected at Chestnut St. to the 36-inch line 
on Madison St., and the other connected 
at Pike St. to the 36-inch line on Division 
St. The two main feeders to which the 30- 
inch lines are connected increase to 48-inch 
lines in diameter and extend independently 
and directly to the Central Park Reservoir, 
and are also re-enforced by connections with 
main feeders in that section of the city. 
These two 30-inch mains are reduced to 24- 
inch mains entering the pumping station. 

An auxiliary salt-water supply, consisting 
of two 36-inch pipes about 140 feet long, 
brings the salt water from the East River 
to a suction chamber located directly in 
front of the pumping station. This is so 
constructed that the pipes are always below 
mean low water at all times, thus insuring 
a supply at all times, and avoiding a pos¬ 
sibility of a break in the suction caused by 
air getting into the suction lines. On the 
river end of the suction there are connected 
or constructed heavy bronze screens, which 
are readily accessible for cleaning at all 
times. From the suction chamber there are 
taken two 30-inch flanged mains to a dupli¬ 
cate set of mains in the pumping station 
proper. The vacuum in these 30-inch pipes 
is maintained by automatic electric vacu¬ 
ums located on the pump floor of the sta¬ 
tion. 

At the Gansevoort St. Station, the fresh¬ 
water supply is derived from two 30-inch 
mains, one connected at 12th St. to the 48- 
inch main on 5th Ave., which runs direct to 
the Central Park Reservoir, and the other 
one is connected to the 36-inch line at 9th 
Ave. and Little West 12th St., which in- 


294 


creases to a 40-inch main, which also runs 
direct to the Central Park Reservoir, 
these two main feeders, in addition to hav- 
\? g i their supply direct from the Central 
Park Reservoir, are also re-enforced by con¬ 
nections with the main feeders in this sec¬ 
tion of the city. The two 30-inch mains are 
reduced to two 24-inch mains entering the 
pumping station. The salt-water suction 
lines for this station are practically iden¬ 
tical with those for the South St. Station, 
except that the two 36-inch mains from the 
North River to the suction tank are 650 feet 
long. 

Pumping Stations. 

The two stations known as the Ganse- 
voort St. Pumping Station, located near 
. Gansevoort St. Market and the North 
River, and the South St. Station, located on 
the corner of Oliver and South Sts., near 
the East River, are identical in construc¬ 
tion and equipment. The buildings are of 
simple design, of steel fireproof construc¬ 
tion, with concrete foundations. The Ganse- 
voort St. Station, which is typical of both, 
is one story with a basement, 63 feet, 8 
inches, by 97 feet, 4 inches. Each station 
is large enough for 3 pumping units. 

Machinery. 

There are now 6 units in each station, 
consisting of ALLIS & CHAMBERS five- 
stage centrifugal pumps driven by ALLIS 
& CHAMBERS induction motors and the 
necessary auxiliary machinery. The motors 
and pumps are alike, and their parts are in¬ 
terchangeable. The pumps each have a 
specified capacity of 3,000 gallons per min¬ 
ute of sea water, working with a suction 
lift of 20 feet, and a delivery pressure of 
300 pounds per square inch. The actual 
capacity, as indicated by a 24-hour test, was 
about 30 per cent, in excess of that specified. 

The original specifications contemplated 
the use of six-stage pumps, with the expec¬ 
tation that sea water was to be used at each 
fire. Because of the facts already referred 
to, that the relative amount of water re¬ 
quired for fire purposes is insignificant, and 
that sea water may do considerable more 
damage to goods than fresh water, a change 
ir. the specifications was agreed to, whereby 
the pumps should work at the best effi¬ 
ciency when receiving water from the Cro¬ 
ton mains at a pressure on the intake side, 
varying from 15 pounds to 40 pounds to the 
square inch. To meet this new condition, 
the pumps were all built with 5 stages. All 
the sea connections and the priming ma¬ 
chinery as originally contemplated were in¬ 
stalled, so that the sea water can be pumped 
into the mains whenever desired. The effect 
of the change is merely to reduce the pres¬ 
sure head slightly, in case sea water is used. 

Arrangement of Machinery. 

The motors and pumps with suction and 
delivery branches are located on the mains 

295 


- the P um P room - The Switchboard and 
switchboard apparatus are placed in an en¬ 
closed 2-story and basement gallery. The 
four high tension feeders and all other 
wires entering the building are brought in 
through the gallery basement. 

All terminal work on the entering wires 
is located in the basement. On the first 
floor of the gallery, which is approximately 
on the same level as the pump floor, are 
placed the oil switches with their control¬ 
ling and protective devices, fireproof cells 
and compartments. The operating switch¬ 
board is conveniently located in the enclos¬ 
ing wall of the gallery, and is so placed as 
to allow a man standing on the pump-room 
floor to perform all the necessary prepara¬ 
tions for controlling the apparatus in the 
stations. The bus bars with their fireproof 
compartments are placed on the second 
floor of the gallery. 

Motors for Centrifugal Pumps. 

Each pump is directly connected with its 
motor by a flexible coupling, which takes 
care of any variations from alignment. The 
motors are constant speed-induction type, 
3-phase, 25-cycle, 6,300 to 6,600 volts, de¬ 
signed to operate at about 740 revolutions 
per minute, and to attain full speed at from 
30 to 45 seconds and develop 800 horse¬ 
power. Direct-current motors of 240 volts 
are provided to operate various gate valves 
in the station, and piston pumps employed 
to maintain a vacuum on the salt-water 
suction lines. 

Pumps. 

The pumps are constructed with 5 stages, 
each to give a pressure of over 60 pounds, 
making the combined pressure of the five 
stages about 300 pounds, which is the maxi¬ 
mum pressure at normal speed of 740 revo¬ 
lutions per minute. Each combined unit is 
equipped with automatic and hand control. 
The pumps are kept primed for instant use, 
and the simple operation of a switch on the 
main switchboard starts the machine and 
gives full pressure in about 30 seconds. 

A combination regulating and relief valve 
is placed between the discharge pipe and 
the suction pipe of each pump, and set to 
regulate the discharge of each pump at any 
predetermined pressure. When the volume 
of water discharged by the pump is in ex¬ 
cess of that forced into the system, this 
valve acts as a relief valve and by-passes 
the excess discharge into the suction of the 
pump, the pressure on the main distribution 
system remaining at the predetermined 
point. 

The priming apparatus in each station 
consists of three motor-driven vacuum 
pumps, each arranged to maintain auto¬ 
matically a vacuum of 26 inches in the suc¬ 
tion lines. These pumps are of the piston 
single-action type, one having a displace¬ 
ment of 300 cubic feet per minute for a pis¬ 
ton speed of 200 feet per minute, and each 
of the others a displacement capacity of 50 


cubic feet, with a piston speed of 100 feet 
per minute. 

An air-cooling chamber is connected to 
each salt-water suction line and is equipped 
with a water gauge and a vacuum gauge 
glass. The air suction piping between the 
chamber and the air pumps is provided 
with a vertical loop sufficiently high to pre¬ 
vent water being carried over to the pumps. 
The air pumps are interconnected with each 
air chamber. A Venturi meter is used for 
measuring the discharge of water from the 
station, and is provided with a dial, indi¬ 
cating gauges and chart recorders gradu¬ 
ated to indicate the flow in gallons per 
minute and the total flow in gallons. A 
pressure of 200 pounds is placed on the 
mains each day, provided that no station is 
sent in. Each station shuts down its cur¬ 
rent for 6 hours each week to clean the 
cables. The other station furnishes the 
pressure on the entire system during the 
shut down of the other station. 

The Gansevoort St. Station starts pumps 
on all stations within the following boun¬ 
dary lines: West of Bowery to Canal St., 
to Walker St., to West Broadway, to North 
Moore St., to North River, to 24th St., to 
Lexington Ave., to Irving Place, to 14th 
St., to 3rd Ave., to Bowery and Houston 
St. 

The Oliver St. Station starts pumps for 
the stations in other parts of the high- 
pressure districts. 


DESCRIPTION OF FIREBOAT 
THOMAS WILLET (ENGINE CO. 86). 

Appliances. 

The Fireboat Thomas Willet has five (5) 
turrets located as follows: 

One on the bow, two amidships at the 
batteries, one on the roof of the pilot house, 
one on the roof aft, 26 feet high. 

Two batteries, consisting of eight Z l / 2 - 
inch gate valves in each. Two-inch nozzles 
are used on the turret pipes. 

Two reels of Zy 2 -mc\\ hose; 36 lengths on 
each reel. 

One reel of 2^-inch hose; 10 lengths on 
reel. 

Engines, Boilers and Pumps. 

The engine for propelling the boat is a 
vertical compound engine, both low and 
high pressure. 

Two auxiliary feed pumps and one sani¬ 
tary pump. 

Fire Pumps. 

Two 2-stage centrifugal pumps, directly 
connected to and operated by two turbine 
engines of 800 horsepower. 

Capacity of Pumps. 

9,000 gallons per minute at 130 pounds 
pressure. 


Boilers of Boat. 

Two BABCOCK & WILCOX WATER 
TUBE BOILERS of 500 horsepower, each 
carrying 200 pounds steam pressure, work¬ 
ing under forced draft; carrying 190 pounds 
steam pressure while lying at berth. 

Capacity of coal bunkers, 40 tons. Low¬ 
est amount carried, 15 tons. Consumption 
per week, 17 tons normal. 

Horsepower of boat engine, 800. 

Speed of boat over a 26-mile course, 16 
knots per hour. 


TEST AT THE FOOT OF GANSE¬ 
VOORT ST. 

First Test. 

The Fireboat Thomas Willet (Engine Co. 
86) at the foot of Gansevoort St. stretched 
20 lengths of 3j4-inch hose, and Engine Co. 
33 (2nd size La France) and Engine Co. 31 
(1st size La France) connected to the 3J4- 
inch line by means of 4}4-inch suction, with 
414-inch to 2k2-inch reducing swivel on 
each, to a 2-way 2 l / 2 -\nc.h. “Y” connection 
on the end of the 3>£-inch line. A 3-inch 
high-pressure gauge connection was placed 
between one suction and the connection by 
means of an increaser and a reducer. Ten 
lengths of 3-inch hose and five lengths of 
2j4-inch hose were stretched from each en¬ 
gine and a 1^-inch open nozzle placed on 
each. The average pressure for seven (7) 
readings was: Engine Co. 33, 82 5-7 pounds; 
Engine Co. 31, 73 pounds. 

Second Test. 

Ten (10) lengths of 3j4-inch hose added 
to the boat line, making thirty (30) lengths 
from boat, and five (5) lengths of iy 2 -inch 
line added to each line from the engines, 
making ten (10) lengths of 3-inch and ten 
(10) lengths of 2 F 2 -inch hose leading from 
each engine. Engine Co. 33 used a 154 - 
inch open nozzle and Engine Co. 31 used 
a 1^-inch open nozzle. The average noz¬ 
zle pressure for seven (7) readings was: 
Engine Co. 33, 40 pounds, using the lJ4-inch 
nozzle, and Engine Co. 31, 60 pounds, using 
the 1 ^ 5 -inch nozzle. 

Third Test. 

Ten more lengths of 3j4-inch hose added 
to the line from boat, making forty (40) 
lengths in the boat lines; 1^-inch nozzles 
on both lines from engines. Average noz¬ 
zle pressure on line from Engine Co. 33 
was 59 y 2 pounds; on Engine Co. 31 average 
nozzle pressure was 57 pounds. 

To relay water from the Fireboats 
through 60 lengths of hose in a single line 
of 3j4-inch hose, the friction would be so 
great that there would be no pressure on 
the end of the line to supply two engines. 
A great deal of friction could be overcome 
by stretching two lines of 3j4-inch hose 
from the boat and Siamesing them into one 
3}4-inch lead line. This method would al¬ 
low the water to distribute in both lines 


296 




and cut down the friction loss, and build 
up pressure at the end of the line to supply 
two engines. The use of any larger-sized 
nozzle than lj4-inch would be a failure, and 
it is necessary for the Engineers running 
the engines to keep a uniform pressure on 
the pumps of the engines so as not to ex¬ 
ceed their supply on the suction side of the 
pumps. 

By relaying two-thirds of a mile, 2 lines 
discharging ample volume for effectiveness 
against any fire. 

The gauge at the Y registered 15 pounds, 
which showed that the hose was not being 
worked at full capacity for delivery. 

When the boat pressure was increased to 
280 pounds, Engine Co. 33, with 200 pounds 
engine pressure, maintained a nozzle pres¬ 
sure of 74 pounds, yielding 325 gallons p. m. 
The suction pressure at the Y was now 1 
pound, showing that the 3j4-inch hose was 
worked at capacity. A pressure at the Y 
lower than zero would have flattened the 
hose. 

The distance for effective relay of water 
can be proportionately increased by multi¬ 
plying the initial Fireboat lines and Siames- 
ing them. 

The Fireboat can furnish 12 3j4-inch 
lines, enough to engage 24 fire engines. 
With boats working at both rivers they 
can reach any fire that might occur in lower 
Manhattan without tapping a hydrant. 


COMBUSTIBLES AND THE INSPEC¬ 
TION OF BUILDINGS PRELIMIN¬ 
ARY TO THE ISSUANCE OF PER¬ 
MITS TO KEEP COMBUSTIBLES. 


The inspection of combustibles is sub¬ 
ject to the rules and regulations set down 
by the Municipal Explosives Commission. 
There are 24 different kinds of business 
places coming under the jurisdiction of the 
Municipal Explosives Commission. 

1— Storage and use of Explosives. 

2— Storage and use of Ammunition. 

3— Storage and use of Fireworks. 

4— Storage and use of Matches. 

5— Storage and use of Mineral Oil. 

6— Storage and use of Inflammable Mix¬ 
tures. 

7— Storage and use of Combustible Mix¬ 
tures. 

8— Storage and use of Garages. 

9— Storage and use of Motor Vehicle Re¬ 
pair Shops. 

10— Dry Cleaning Establishments. 

11— Sponging Establishments. 

12— Storage and use of Paints, Oils, Var¬ 
nishes, etc. „ _ , . _ , ., 

13— 'Storage and use of Calcium Carbide. 

14— Storage and use of Gas under Pres- 


,ure. 


15— Storage and use of Nitro-celluse 
3 roducts. 

16— Storage and use of inflammable Mov- 
ng Picture Films. 

17 — Storage and use of Distilled Liquors. 


Storage and use of Oils, Fats and 
Greases. 

19-—Combustible Fibers. 

29—Combustible Wooden Packing Boxes. 

21— Sheet Fires. 

22— Technical Establishments. 

23— Wholesale Drug Houses. 

24— Retail Drug Houses. 

There are 11 different forms of reports 
for each kind of business. The first ques¬ 
tion most likely to be asked by the owner 
of the premises to be inspected is: “By what 
right do you enter?” 

Section No. 775 of the Laws of 1911 of 
the Greater New York Charter answers this 
question. 

In making an inspection of a building, 
see the manager of the concern. The jani¬ 
tor and engineer must also be consulted for 
information necessary to assist in making a 
good and thorough inspection. 

Examine the building from the street, 
and before entering note the Height, Width 
and the Material it is built of; also note the 
buildings adjoining and see if they are 
equipped with fire escapes. Note Siamese 
connections and signs. Note the exposures 
on the building from a fire starting in the 
vicinity. Then go to the roof and work 
downward, taking in each floor. From the 
roof you have a good view of surrounding 
exposures and of the number of shafts in 
the building, as they all have to end on the 
roof. Also note the condition and number 
of tanks for Sprinkler and Standpipe sys¬ 
tems. Note the division walls of buildings, 
and also the extensions which can be seen 
from the roof. 

There are four classes of occupancy: 

1st—Factories; 

2nd—Tenements; 

3rd—Places of Public Assembly; 

4th—Stores. 

There are four classes of construction: 

1st—Wooden Buildings; 

2nd—'Semi-fire resistant of brick and 
frame, stone, granite, marble, etc.; 

3rd—Fire resistant of steel skeleton and 
terra cotta, or concrete or sorrel 
stone, which is the most resistant 
of all; 

4th—Mill construction. 

The principal points of “Mill Construction” 
are as follows: 

1st.—It consists of making a fire-stop of 
heavy planks between the stories, so that 
the spread of fire may be retarded. This 
necessarily includes doing away with all the 
openings on the floors, such as bolt holes, 
stairways, elevators, well-holes, etc., all of 
which must be in a cut-off tower. 

2nd.—The timbers and flooring required 
to give the necessary stability and strength 
are so arranged as to offer as smooth a sur¬ 
face and as few corners on which the fire 
may feed as is practical. This should 
also do away with all concealed spaces in 
floors and walls. This is accomplished by 
using very heavy timbers on the floors, 


297 



spaced at a distance of 8 to 12 feet apart, 
and floors of 3 or 4-inch planks with single 
or double top boards. In a building of this 
character, fire can be readily reached with 
water either from hose streams or from 
sprinklers. 

3rd.—Floors must be tight as well as 
heavy, so as to prevent fire, smoke or water 
from working through. This is one of the 
most important features of a “mill-con¬ 
structed” building and one to which suffi¬ 
cient attention is not paid, due to poorly 
seasoned planks or poor workmanship. 
Openings are left around posts, at side 
walls, or elsewhere, and fire, smoke and 
water work through these openings, de¬ 
stroying or impairing the efficiency of the 
floor. 

No licenses are issued for buildings which 
are used for the storage, use or sale of com¬ 
bustible materials that are not equipped 
with fire extinguishers. 

Appliances which consist of the follow¬ 
ing: Sprinklers, standpipes, hose, and other 
attachments; tanks, pails of water and pails 
of sand, or whatever other fire appliances 
that may be deemed necessary by the Bu¬ 
reau of Fire Prevention. 

A fire-resisting building must be a build¬ 
ing in which a fire that has started will be 
confined to that compartment or unit of 
area where the fire originated; or, if it is 
a fire from the outside, to be able to pro¬ 
tect its essential parts, and to protect the 
buildings beyond, in order to stop the 
spread of flames. 

It is necessary to note the number of 
floors on the report in order to determine 
the size of the building and the number of 
occupants; also the risk if the building is 
of great height. The size of the standpipes 
and fire appliances required by law to pro¬ 
tect the buildings and occupants should also 
be given the strictest attention. 

No licenses are issued for the storage of 
combustible fibres within 50 feet of a thea¬ 
ter, hospital or other place of public assem¬ 
bly, nor to any part of a building occupied 
as such. 

No permit shall be issued for the manu¬ 
facture, storage or sale of paints in base¬ 
ment, on account of the fire hazard, making 
the occupancy of each of the floors danger¬ 
ous. As to openings in floors, such as 
stairways, etc., in tenements, and quantities 
of combustible fibres to be used or stored, 
and the improved fire-extinguishing system, 
from pails of water and sand, use judgment 
in making your recommendations. 

"In the fire alarm equipment, automatic 
electrical alarms with fusible plugs are the 
best. 

In garages, buckets of sand are the best. 

In drug stores, you will invariably find 
the following acids for sale, which set fire 
to wood: NITRIC, HYDRO-CHLORATE, 
SULPHURIC and CARBOLIC ACIDS. 
Fire caused by any of these acids can be 
extinguished by the following: Sal-Soda, 
Potassium, powdered Sand and powdered 
Marble Dust; also by fire extinguishers ap¬ 


proved by the Fire Commissioner. Pyrene 
.and Rex extinguishers are approved. 

Where combustible fibres are stored, 
pails of water should be used. The num¬ 
ber, location and kind of fire escapes to be 
noted and to be located convenient to where 
the people are employed. Outside fire es¬ 
capes to be of iron. Iron shutters or wire 
glass to be used in the rear of garages; also 
metal self-closing windows on same, on ac¬ 
count of the dense and large volume of 
smoke arising from burning gasoline, caus¬ 
ing danger of panic to people in surround¬ 
ing buildings. 

Shafts must be enclosed in fireproof re¬ 
sisting materials. Heating apparatus must 
be isolated by and separated by walls of 
brick or fire-resisting materials, and open¬ 
ings protected by self-closing fireproof 
doors. No open grates or gas stoves to be 
used for making hot water or steam, or 
for heating. No open lights to be used; 
only electric incandescent lights with key¬ 
less sockets. Ventilating of the building to 
be a "proper system with windows working 
easily, and not nailed or broken. Buildings 
must be of fireproof or fire-resisting mate¬ 
rial in construction. Report must be made 
in a thorough and proper manner, so as to 
guide the examiner in determining the issu¬ 
ance of a permit. 


FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. 

There is great danger at all times threat¬ 
ening this city on account of the Telegraph 
System, which is housed in what cannot be 
termed a strictly fireproof building, which, 
if it were destroyed by fire, would menace 
the entire system by putting the telegraph 
wires and system out of business, and ne¬ 
cessitating dependence upon telephones and 
on street patrol being instituted. Such dan¬ 
ger can be eliminated by placing the tele¬ 
graph bureau in an isolated place, and in 
fireproof buildings in all Boroughs of the 
City of New York. 

On June 1st, 1912, there was established 
a separate bureau, making the Telegraph 
Bureau independent, and by itself. The 
change was not made on account of any 
mismanagement on the part of our prede¬ 
cessors, but on account of the growth of the 
city. The system at present is not perfect. 
There are a great many alarm boxes in 
Brooklyn, Manhattan and The Bronx that 
have done service for a great many years; 
they were not perfect when installed and 
are not perfect now. The task of making 
a change is a great one, and cannot be done 
overnight. To keep the system in service, 
the change must be made gradually. 

Upon taking the position as head of the 
Telegraph Bureau, and having a technical 
training, I gathered men who are special¬ 
ists in some particular branch of the serv¬ 
ice and formed a board, which is to be 
consulted on every move made for the im¬ 
provement of the service. No records of 
the system were at hand, nor no account of 
material or property on hand, and no place 


298 



to store any material, and a very small 
staff to help to operate the system. Four 
months were consumed in maintaining the 
old system and getting records to instal a 
new system, and the only thing that is lack¬ 
ing now is the money to continue the work. 
It should be borne in mind that the Tele¬ 
graph Bureau is very close to the Fire De¬ 
partment, and for the success of both it 
is necessary to work hand in hand. By the 
Telegraph Bureau being able to properly 
transmit alarms of fire sent out by citizens 
to the F. D., so that they can respond 
quickly with their apparatus and men to ex¬ 
tinguish the fires, it is necessary to have a 
perfect system, which is in the course of 
construction, and still maintain the old and 
imperfect apparatus, which will have to be 
used until the new system is installed. 

At present there are several styles of 
boxes. The principal ones are the guarded 
or interfering box, successive and non-in¬ 
terfering box. The interfering box, when 
pulled, will be interfered with if another 
box is pulled on the same circuit at the same 
time. The non-interfering box has a mag¬ 
net which holds back any signal which may 
be transmitted while another signal is be¬ 
ing received, making it possible for any 
number of boxes to be pulled at one time, 
and allowing each one to be received with¬ 
out any interference. With this knowledge 
in view, it is not well for the members of 
the Department to criticize the Telegraph 
Bureau, when they know all possible is be¬ 
ing done to perfect the system. The trip 
switches for lighting quarters when an 
alarm of fire is sounded are under the con¬ 
trol of the Telegraph Bureau, which should 
be notified in case they become out o‘f or¬ 
der. In case of any trouble, notify De¬ 
partment Headquarters, reporting condi¬ 
tions, and make the proper recommenda¬ 
tions which you think will improve the sys¬ 
tem. When anything comes to your no¬ 
tice that needs attention in quarters, on the 
street, or in any part of the system, it will 
also be well to notify Headquarters. Be¬ 
sides the regular report, it will be necessary 
to notify the Telegraph Bureau at once by 
telephone, and make any suggestions you 
wish for the betterment of the service. 

In setting any alarm box and pulling 
same by mistake, place your finger on the 
Morse key until the box has run down. 
Taking out the wooden plug at the top of 
the clock and placing it in the lower hole 
will have the same result. 

When sending test signals from boxes at 
theaters in Brooklyn, any box on that cir¬ 
cuit that may be pulled for an alarm of fire 
will not be received at Headquarters. For 
the past year the wrong signal has been 
sent in for test signal at theaters. The or¬ 
der calls for 11 taps, eleven; Test signal, 
and two rounds of the box to be sent in. 
Instead, eleven (11) taps and the box num¬ 
ber is sent in twice. This takes about one 
minute, and time is very valuable in case an 
alarm is transmitted from a street box on 
that circuit in the meantime. Another 
thing- This test does not prove that the 


box is working properly, you only test the 
circuit, and that is tested every few min¬ 
utes by the operator at Headquarters. 

To properly test the boxes at Theaters, if 
the members of the Department could be in¬ 
structed to do it with safety, would be as 
follows: Take out the wooden plug at the 
top of the clock and place in the hole lower 
down, after pulling the hook and allowing 
one round of the box number to be sent 
in, and allowing the other three rounds to 
be sent in with the plug in the lower hole; 
then remove plug and replace it in the up¬ 
per hole and rewind the box, thus complet¬ 
ing the test. The removing of the plug 
from the upper to the lower hole cuts out 
communication with the Department Head¬ 
quarters, and care would be needed to re¬ 
place the plug in the upper hole after the 
test has been made, to insure the proper 
working of the box in case of fire. If it can 
be assumed that the member detailed to 
the Theater can learn this way of testing- 
boxes, it will be adopted by the Depart¬ 
ment. 


PROPER HANDLING OF STREAMS 
OF WATER WHILE WORKING 
AT FIRES. 

Officers should know the size of nozzles 
to use. 

The following example was given: 

Question:—Stretch 800 feet of 3-inch hose, 
using street pipe at a big fire to cover a 
building 6 stories high and 50 feet front, 
also upper windows on side, using a 2nd 
size engine with 750 gallons capacity per 
minute. What size nozzle and what pres¬ 
sure would be required on the engine, al¬ 
lowing one (1) foot for each pound on the 
nozzle, to cover the distance the stream has 
to reach? 

ANSWER:—1^-inch nozzle; 90 pounds 
nozzle pressure; 170 pounds at engine. 

When working at a fire, have a line 
charged when opening a door and get down 
low; open pipe, placing stream to the ceil¬ 
ing to reduce the temperature of room; shut 
the pipe when the fire is out or darkened 
down, and do not wait for a Chief to give 
you the order. When working a stream on 
the street, keep it moving. Have the 
stream hit above the bottom of the win¬ 
dow sill, in order to reach further into the 
room or floor. 

Another question given by the Chief of 
Department was as follows: 

Question:—What pressure would be re¬ 
quired at engine with a stretch of 20 lengths 
of 3 ^ 2 -inch hose with a 194 -inch nozzle to 
maintain 100 lbs. nozzle pressure? 

ANSWER:—The capacity of a l^-inch 
nozzle at 100 lbs. nozzle pressure would be 
918 gallons per minute; the friction loss on 
3j4-inch hose per 100 feet is 28.2; 28.2 mul¬ 
tiplied by 10 equals 282 lbs., plus 100 lbs. 



pressure, equals 382 lbs. Answer: 382 lbs. 
on boat or engine. 

The question proves that with the ordi¬ 
nary steam fire engine or boat, a l^-inch 
nozzle would be too large to furnish 100 
lbs. pressure through 1,000 feet of SyZt-inch 
hose, as their highest pressure is 300 lbs. on 
the pumps. 


MAKING OUT CHARGES AND THE 

PROPER PROCEDURE OF TRIAL 
AND PRESENTING EVIDENCE. 

Section No. 739 of the Greater New York 
Charter gives the Fire Commissioner power 
to prescribe such rules and regulations for 
the proper administration of the F. D., 
also to publicly examine into any charges 
of infractions of the Rules and Regulations, 
Laws and Ordinances, etc., and punish the 
offending members by dismissal from the 
Department, withholding pay, by imposing 
fines or by reprimand, at the discretion of 
the Fire Commissioner; the said member to 
receive 48 hours’ notice of trial and to be 
tried in the Borough where the member 
committed the offence. 

No charges shall be preferred against 
members for trifling offences or infractions 
of the Rules and Regulations, etc., as pro¬ 
visions are made for the commanding offi¬ 
cers of companies to punish members for 
slight infractions or misconduct by with¬ 
holding the 12-hour leaves as a disciplinary 
measure. This is a good punishment and a 
cure for trifling matters. 

But in cases of a serious nature, do not 
hesitate to prefer charges, as that is the 
way to treat serious offences. Drunken¬ 
ness is a very serious matter, and charges 
should be preferred in each and every case. 
A man who habitually gets drunk is unable 
to properly perform his duties as a fireman, 
and is a disgrace to the members of the 
uniformed force, and the quicker the De¬ 
partment is rid of him the better. When 
the occasion arises to prefer charges 
against a member of your company for in¬ 
toxication, and the man is in quarters and 
is unfit for duty, call the Medical Officer. 
Notice his walk, speech, condition of cloth¬ 
ing, the smell of his breath, and the color 
of his eyes. Have the house watchman do 
the same, or any other member that may 
be present that you wish to act as a wit¬ 
ness. 

Assaulting an Officer is a very serious 
offence, and will not be tolerated by the 
Fire Commissioner, and the proving of guilt 
in such a case will call for dismissal from 
the Department. The proper procedure in 
cases of this kind, or of any serious nature 
where charges are to be preferred is: 

The officer will obtain the statement of 
each witness at the time of the occurrence, 
which statement will be signed by such wit¬ 
nesses as gives them. This will do away 
with the excuses of witnesses losing mem¬ 
ory when the day of trial comes about, or 
committing perjury at the trial. 


The special order to prefer charges 
against Chauffeurs of autmobile appara¬ 
tus that have an accident with their ma¬ 
chines is for the purpose of having the 
cause of the accident examined into, to 
place the blame for the accident where it 
properly belongs, and to prevent careless¬ 
ness in operating these valuable machines. 
Charges will be made in all cases against 
Chauffeurs, and the examination will bring 
out who is responsible for the accident. 

Absence without leave from proper au¬ 
thority and debts for necessities of life, be¬ 
ing conduct unbecoming a Fireman and a 
gentleman, are serious offences. 

Disobedience of orders is another seri¬ 
ous offence. 

In presenting a case for trial, gather the 
facts of the case, interview witnesses, re¬ 
fresh their memories when necessary, and 
go over the case carefully, following the 
Book of Rules and Regulations, using 
proper sections of same. Have the names 
of witnesses, rank and company. Number 
and names of citizens—their full names and 
addresses. Captains who are witnesses in 
small cases will put themselves down as wit¬ 
nesses, in addition to putting their names at 
the bottom of charges. Important infor¬ 
mation in the case should be forwarded to 
the Chief of the Department before the 
trial. When in doubt of anything, make the 
proper inquiries from the proper officials. 
In the production of witnesses, have them 
ready for trial. In case they are citizens or 
civilian witnesses, have them notified in 
time, and if they are unwilling to appear, 
notify the Chief of the Department of their 
names and addresses and have them sub¬ 
poenaed. 

Procedure of Trial. 

The procedure of trial is as follows: 

Call the accused and read the charges 
that are about to be preferred against him. 
He is asked if he pleads “Guilty” or “Not 
Guilty” to the charges preferred against 
him. The Fireman to give explanation of 
the charges, and the witnesses are called 
and asked if they are true. The Captain’s 
word goes a great way with the trial judge 
in determining his findings. 

In cases of absence without leave for a 
period of over 12 hours, have the member 
fill out the blank form in accordance with 
S. O. No. 6, which is to be signed by the 
house watchman and then by the command¬ 
ing officer. If the member refuses to fill 
out the above-mentioned blank, prefer 
charges against him for disobedience of or¬ 
ders. Present this statement to the trial 
commissioner in such case. 

The member charged has to be proved 
guilty before he is convicted and punished. 
The burden of proof and proving him guilty 
falls on the officer who is preferring the 
charges. No suppositions or conclusions 
to be made; they are not facts. Facts are 
needed, and all witnesses must make out 
and sign statements; date same and forward 
to Chief of Department. All members must 


300 



be to the point, and no more information to 
be given-than what is asked for when ques¬ 
tioned. If you have any information that 
would assist the trial commissioner in the 
trial, give it to him privately. Witnesses 
are to testify to what they know of their 
own knowledge, and not what they think 
or have heard. Facts are necessary to con¬ 
vict, and suppositions will not be given any 
weight. If no positive proof can be given, 
better not prefer any charges. 

Insubordination is a very serious charge. 
When an apparatus of the Department is 
damaged, and members are injured, in such 
case names of witnesses and their addresses 
should be forwarded to the Chief of De¬ 
partment, also all evidence to be secured 
and forwarded. This is where damage is 
done to apparatus and members through 
the fault of outside parties, which infor¬ 
mation is to be used by the Corporation 
Counsel in bringing suit in behalf of the 
City of New York against offending parties. 


THE PROPER USE OF NOZZLES AND 
STREAMS AT FIRES, AND THE 
DIFFERENT KINDS OF NOZZLES 
TO USE. 

Controlling Nozzle—Open Nozzle—Deck 
Pipe—Turret Pipe—Towers—Rail Pipe—* 
Spherical Nozzle—Sub-Cellar Pipe—Hart 
Cellar Pipe—Baker Cellar Pipe—Bent Cel¬ 
lar Pipe—Breslin Nozzle. 

When using nozzles at fires, also pipes, 
take into consideration the size of the hose 
you are using and the distance you are from 
the hydrant, or source of supply. One-half 
the diameter of the hose is used as nozzle 
sizes. 

For a long stretch of 2j4-inch hose use a 
lj^-inch Nozzle. 

For a long stretch of 3-inch hose use a 
1^4-inch Nozzle. 

For a long stretch of 3j4-inch hose use a 
lj4-inch Nozzle. 

For a short stretch of 3-inch hose use a 
l^-inch Nozzle. 

For a medium stretch of 3-inch hose use a 
114-inch Nozzle. 

Kinds of Nozzles to be Used, and When. 

A controlling nozzle must be used when 
working on fire escapes, inside of buildings, 
on ladders, or in any other position requir¬ 
ing frequent shifting of thejine. 

“On 2nd alarms use open pipes’ (unless 
you are 1st alarm companies and are al¬ 
ready at the fire). This order is obsolete. 
For work inside of buildings use control¬ 
ling nozzle. 

When working on a building on the 1st 
alarm, and the fire gets away from you, and 
you are ordered to back out and take 
stream to street, stretch another 3-inch line 
from the other discharge gate of the engine 
to the front of the building; put on Siamese 
connection and 3-inch lead line with proper 
size nozzle, using pipe-holder or stand, and 


start water in this line by opening up dis¬ 
charge gate of the engine. When the water 
is started in this line, shut off the 2^4-inch 
line, and break the same near the Siamese 
connection, using an increaser from 2J4 to 
3 inches. Then open gate and start the 
water in this line. 

Hose wagons equipped with turret pipes 
must be placed in proper position for best 
results; get the proper angle to do effectual 
work with the stream, not having it too 
close nor too far away from the building. 
Shift the stream from floor to floor and 
window to window, when necessary. In 
narrow streets place the wagon on sidewalk 
opposite the fire to get the proper angle. 
Have the forward wheels placed in same 
direction as the hind wheels. If front 
wheels are placed under the wagon, the 
wagon may turn over when the pressure is 
on the turret. The officer in charge will 
be held responsible, be it a water tower, 
deck pipe or turret pipe. Do . not allow 
the stream from tower to go through a 
window and out of the rear of a building, 
but let the stream hit the ceiling, and shift' 
it when it is necessary to extinguish the 
fire. 


USING A CELLAR PIPE. 

For a small cellar, wood bins, etc., use 
distributors; to cover large areas use Hart 
or Baker cellar pipes. When washing down 
after a fire use the tip on the nozzle of a 
*4-inch nozzle, if the same be .carried,, in 
order to save water and labor in carrying 
larger hose from floor to floor. Hart, 
Baker and distributor nozzles can be used 
on roofs or through walls of commercial 
buildings, not forgetting the Bent cellar 
pipe and the sub-cellar pipes for cellars of 
large areas. 

For dumbwaiter shafts, stair walls, ele¬ 
vator shafts, or other vertical openings, di¬ 
rect your stream from below, up these 
openings so as to reach the highest altitude 
possible. When working, on piled goods, 
such as hay, straw, etc., hit the ceiling over 
the goods, allowing the water to distribute 
into the same. Stores or lofts or any place 
in building, hit the ceiling and shift the 
stream, shutting off the pipe when the fire 
is extinguished. 

When using a controlling nozzle in the 
high-pressure district, if the nozzle is. closed 
and you wish to open same, open it very 
slowly, in order to allow the pressure which 
has backed up to equalize. 

Always keep away from the wall and 
goods; stand away from any object that the 
stream is liable to strike. Judgment and 
common sense should be used when enter¬ 
ing a door with a pipe. When no great 
heat is felt and there is plenty of smoke, 
allow the smoke to blow away. Do not 
open the nozzle unless you feel plenty of 
heat. Experience will teach you when to 
open the pipe and when not to. 


301 




CONSTRUCTION OF MOTOR APPA¬ 
RATUS. 

The “chassis” includes the frame, the 
power plant, the running gear and the 
steering gear. The engine is attached to 
the forward end of the frame, oii account 
of the gas engine. Cycle power is used 
in propelling the car: First, through a 
clutch; second, a gear set containing a 
series of spur gears altering the speed of 
the engine with respect to the rear wheels; 
third, a shaft drive with a universal joint 
at each end, or a jack shaft or chain drive; 
fourth, a differential gear which allows the 
rear wheels to rotate at different speeds on 
a curve; fifth, rear drive axle, or sprocket 
to which the power is finally delivered to 
the rear wheels. 

The following accessories are necessary 
for the operation of the engine: First, fuel 
system; second, ignition system; third, 
cooling system; fourth, muffler; fifth, con¬ 
trol levers. 

The running gear includes: First, the 
springs which absorb shocks due to un¬ 
even roads; second, the axle; third, the 
wheels; fourth, the steering gear. 

The engine is started by cranking, that 
is, by giving the starting handle one or two 
turns by hand. 

The starting handle consists of a crank 
having a clutch, which engages with the 
forward end of the engine shaft. A spring 
pushes the clutch out of engagement when 
not pressed toward the engine in cranking. 

A gas engine is composed of stationary 
and working parts. The stationary parts 
are as follows: First, the cylinders; second, 
the crank case. 

The working parts are: First, the piston; 
second, connecting rod; third, the shaft; 
fourth, the flywheel; fifth, valve gears. 

The cylinders of a gas engine are open 
at the end and toward the crank case, and 
closed at the opposite end, except for the 
inlet and exhaust parts which are opened 
and closed by the valves. 

The cylinders are supported by a crank 
case, which is a closed box-like structure, 
made up of an intermediate piece to which 
the cylinder is attached, and a lower piece 
which retains the oil. 

The piston consists of a cylindrical box 
of proper size, to slide back and forth in 
the cylinder box, and is known as the trunk 
piston. This form of piston performs the 
duties of both piston and crosshead. The 
piston is single-acting, that is to say, it is 
acted upon by the power on one fact only. 
To prevent leakage, several grooves are 
cut in its circumference to receive packing 
rings of the type generally known as “snap 
rings.” 

The crank shaft is formed from a solid 
steel forging, and consists of a central 
cylindrical piece, from which radiate one 
or more center cranks, corresponding to 
the number of connecting rods. The order 
of the cranks depends upon the type of the 
engine. There is an admission or inlet 
valve and an exhaust valve for each cylin¬ 


der. There are two kinds of admission 
valves, the automatic and the positive or 
mechanically operated valve. The valve 
gear consists of: First, the valve stem, 
which is made of sufficient length to ex¬ 
tend down into the crank case, and which 
enters through a bushing which serves as 
a guide; attached to the end of the stem is 
a roller bearing, which rides on a cam at¬ 
tached to the cam shaft. The cam shaft 
is geared to the crank shaft in such propor¬ 
tion that it makes one revolution to every 
two of the crank shaft. By means of a 
spring, the roller bearing is held in contact 
with the cam. The valves may be oper¬ 
ated from a single cam shaft, when they 
are located on one side of the cylinder. 
When the valves are located on opposite 
sides of the cylinders, two cam shafts are 
necessary. 

Necessary for the operation of a gas en¬ 
gine are the fuel, ignition, cooling and lubri¬ 
cating systems. 

The term cycle as applied to a gas engine 
is defined as “a series of events which are 
repeated in regular order, constituting the 
principle of operation.” Expressed briefly, 
the cycle of a gas engine embraces: First, 
the admission of the charge into the cylin¬ 
ders; second, its compression; third, igni¬ 
tion; fourth, combustion; fifth, expansion 
therein; sixth, the subsequent exhaust of 
the products of combustion. 

The four-cycle engine, although, more 
bulky than the two-cycle engine, and-requir¬ 
ing twice the number of cylinders for the 
equal turning effect, is almost universally 
used for the propulsion of automobiles. It 
has some advantages over the two-cycle 
engine, which more than offset its undesir¬ 
able features, and have caused it to come 
into general favor. Among the advantages 
of a four-cycle engine over a two-cycle en¬ 
gine may be mentioned: Efficiency, flex¬ 
ibility, adequate admission, a high speed, 
higher degrees of expansion and more ef¬ 
ficient exhaust. 

The four strokes of a four-cycle engine 
comprise the working of the same. They 
are: First, suction; second, compression; 
third, power; fourth, exhaust stroke. Dur¬ 
ing the suction stroke the piston moves out¬ 
ward and draws in the mixture (fuel). The 
following inward stroke compresses the 
charge in the combustion chamber. Just 
before the end of this stroke is ignited, 
which causes a rapid rise of pressure and 
a subsequent expansion of the combustion 
products during the next or power stroke, 
the first and third strokes are outward and 
the second and fourth strokes are inward, 
that is to say, the piston moves away from 
' the combustion chamber during admission 
and impulse, and approaches it during com¬ 
pression and exhaust. The piston receives 
an impulse once in every two revolutions. 

The action of the valves during the 
cycle: During the admission the inlet valve 
remains open, and the exhaust is closed. 
During the compression and power strokes 
both valves remain closed. Exhaust takes 
place with the inlet valve closed and the 


302 


exhaust valve open. The ignition takes 
place at a variable time, near the end of the 
compression stroke, depending entirely 
upon the speed and load. The reason that 
the ignition takes place near the end of 
the compression stroke is that there will be 
time for the pressure due to combustion to 
build up and thereby secure a high initial 
pressure at the beginning of the power 
stroke. 

Provisions are made to keep the engine 
in motion during the three non-power 
strokes of the cycle, which are as follows: 

A heavy flywheel, which receives sufficient 
momentum during the power stroke to keep 
the engine going at a uniform speed dur¬ 
ing the period between impulses. 

There are two methods used in the cool¬ 
ing systems: First, by a jacket of circu¬ 
lating water; second, by induced air cur¬ 
rents. The water jacket is formed by a 
thin space around the cylinder, which is 
provided for the water by an outer casing 
of metal, either cast with the cylinders or 
attached as the case of a sheet copper outer 
casting. What has become of the water 
after it has circulated and absorbed the 
heat from the cylinders? It passes off to 
the radiator, where it is cooled, after which 
it is used over again, circulating continu¬ 
ously around the cylinders, and through the 
outer parts of the cooling system. 

The carburetor is a device wherein gaso¬ 
line vapor and air are mixed in propor pro¬ 
portion to form the fuel for an internal 
combustion engine. 

Ignition systems: Dynamo or magneto 
used to furnish current to spark plug to 
ignite fuel in the cylinders. The timer is 
a revolving switch which closes and opens 
the primary circuit. It is operated by the 
engine being geared to revolve at one-half 
the speed of the engine in a four-cylinder 
engine, and at full speed of the engine in 
a two-cycle. 

Cranking is the act of rotating an engine 
by means of a crank handle in order to 
start it. Turning it over a few times by 
hand, if all the mechanism is in proper 
working order, causes the engine to take 
its cycle and continue to rotate. There is 
a right and wrong way to crank an engine. 
The proper method is: The operator is to 
face the car and grasp the crank handle 
with the four fingers of the right hand, al¬ 
lowing the thumb to lay along the handle. 
The crank is now raised to its highest point 
and pressed in toward the car and turned 
downward. If at the beginning of the 
movement it turns hard, indicating com¬ 
pression, the operator should allow the 
crank to spring out of engagement with 
the shaft and revolve backward far enough 
so that he can pull against compression. 
For a beginner it is advisable that he make 
two or three turns with the switch off, then 
make a final turn with the switch on, and 
the engine should start. 


AUXILIARY FIRE APPLIANCES AND 
DEFINITIONS. 

Any and all approved fire appliances, that 
is, fire alarm fixtures and other devices, in¬ 
tended to aid, or accessory to an alarm, pre¬ 
vention or extinguishment of fire, or the 
saving of life or property, are given below: 

Fire buckets, hooks, axes, extinguishers, 
tanks, sprinklers, standpipes, hose, noz¬ 
zles, spanners, gravity tanks, fire pumps, 
pressure tanks, air compressors, signs 
on floors, signs over exits, lights over 
same, interior alarms, watchmen’s sig¬ 
nals, fire escapes, shutters, pails, sand, 
wire-glass, automatic alarm with De¬ 
partment Headquarters, use of elevator at 
all hours, outside Siamese connections for 
sprinklers, standpipes, perforated pipes, 
etc., and the proper signs over the same. 

There are three kinds of approved fire 
appliances, namely, appliances for extin¬ 
guishing fires, appliances for detecting fire, 
and appliances for retarding fire. 

The first class comprises: Water buckets, 
sprinklers, standpipes, hose, hooks, axes, 
etc. The second class comprises: Alarm 
valves, bells, automatic alarms, fusible links 
and time detectors. The third class com¬ 
prises: Fireproof construction, safety cans, 
fireproof doors, shutters, wire-glass, etc. 

The Laws and Ordinances give the Fire 
Commissioner the power to order the in¬ 
stallation of any and all fire appliances that 
he may deem necessary, in all kinds of 
buildings used for commercial and manufac¬ 
turing purposes. 

Fire Pails. 

Fire pails, capable of holding 10 quarts 
of water, to be painted red, are to be placed 
on racks. They are to have flat bottoms and 
must be made of metal, and are to be 
placed conveniently on floors near the 
doors and exits, and to be in groups of 
six pails with covers, filled with water, and 
to be re-filled with water at least once each 
week (clean water). The racks which are 
to contain the pails of water are to be 
placed not lower than 2^ feet from the 
floor, nor more than 5 feet above the floor, 
and must not be tiered one upon the other, 
but placed horizontally on the racks, or 
hung on hooks. Wooden pails are not to 

be used. ... 

To prevent the water from freezing in 
exposed buildings, chloride of potassium 
should be used, two pounds to each tank 
of six pails’ capacity. Tanks must be free 
from corrosion at all times. Buckets must 
necessarily be filled up to the top. Truck 
companies to use buckets in the buildings 
on fire. Inspectors should explain the value 
of these buckets to the occupants of all 
buildings when making tours of inspection. 

Fire extinguishers of three gallons capac¬ 
ity, tested to 300 pounds to the square inch, 
must be used. A stopper is used in the 
bottles of acid in the extinguisher, to pre¬ 
vent the pressure being received at once 
and to prevent explosions. Extinguishers 


303 


should be placed near the doors and exits, 
and must be cared for by the employees of 
the building by testing and recharging the 
same once or twice each year. They should 
place a tag on same and state when it was 
charged. Inspectors should make the test 
to demonstrate the use of same to the em¬ 
ployees, in order that they may learn how 
it is to be used in the event of necessity. 
One and one-half pounds of bicarbonate of 
soda and 2 l / 2 gallons of water to be mixed 
until dissolved. Four ounces of acid to be 
used. The extinguishers must not be ex¬ 
posed to the freezing weather, and must 
be carried right side up until ready for use, 
and to be shut off by righting up again 
after they have been used. 

Pyrene extinguishers contain carbide 
chloride, the fumes of which are very dan¬ 
gerous. 

The base of “Dry Powder Extinguisher” 
is bicarbonate of soda, which is of small 
value for fires in the exterior of buildings 
and of no use for outside fires. 

Hand granades contain water and salt 
and are of little value. 

Hooks and axes in theaters: A 20-foot 
hook is the longest that should be used; 
25-foot hooks are too large. For ordinary 
use 6-foot hooks are the best. Flathead 
axes weighing about 5 pounds are the best. 
In hospitals and asylums hooks and axes 
must be placed in charge of the elevator 
man. 

Standpipes must be placed in buildings 
exceeding 85 feet in height; also in build¬ 
ings covering a large area, and in theaters 
irrespective of height. Hangers for stand¬ 
pipes, sprinklers and perforated pipes must 
be secure. Reducing valves must be placed 
on standpipes halfway, and must be set so 
as to give 80 pounds pressure at the outlet. 
A direct line must be used to fill the tanks 
on the roofs. Tanks must not be filled by 
the use of standpipes. Siamese connections 
must be not less than 18 inches from the 
ground, and must be in a horizontal posi¬ 
tion; a lHi-inch fitting to be used when 
turned down. Long-stem valves must be 
used on roof outlets to prevent freezing in 
cold weather. 

Pumps must be of sufficient capacity to 
fill the tanks in three hours, and the pipe 
for filling the tank must run to the top 
of the tank. 

When making inspection of buildings, 
take the hose off racks, and in replacing 
hose have the folds of the hose changed. 

Perforated pipes when used to extinguish 
fires in cellars and sub-cellars, cause the 
oxygen to leave the air. Ventilate the cel¬ 
lars and sub-cellars before entering to over¬ 
haul, after the perforated pipes have been 
operated, in order to prevent being over¬ 
come. When using or inspecting buildings 
where perforated pipes are used, examine 
the hangers and see that they are secure 
and O. K. in every manner. A good idea 
in order to distinguish signs on Siamese 
connections at night, is to use different 
shapes to denote the different kinds of con¬ 
nections. 


Sprinklers are iron pipes connected to¬ 
gether and hung close to the ceiling with 
risers supplying each floor from gravity or 
pressure tanks, and an auxiliary supply of 
water from the mains, and steam connec¬ 
tions with fusible heads properly spaced to 
cover the entire floor area. 

Sprinkler heads that fuse at 165 degrees 
are bronze or gilt. 

Sprinkler heads that fuse at 212 degrees 
are white. 

Sprinkler heads that fuse at 280 degrees 
are blue. 

Sprinkler heads that fuse at 360 degrees 
are red. 

Castiron pipe will not stand the heat as 
well as malleable iron, and for that reason 
iron pipes are not used for perforated pipes 
or dry sprinklers. Locate sprinklers and 
shut off generally by globe valve, allowed 
in some places where liable to freeze. 
There are patent coverings for threads on 
Siamese connections instead of the caps. 
These caps are easy to remove, and are 
very often stolen, while the patent ones 
are easily removed but never stolen. The 
patent caps have a swivel connection, and 
are fastened with clamps, and are marked 
“Sprinklers,” etc. 


ELECTRIC FIRES. 

What is electricity? It is the means of 
distributing power to do things with. 
Power can go wrong. Short-circuit causes 
power to concentrate at the point of break 
and do damage. Old installation and faulty 
construction and poor workmanship are the 
causes of power going wrong in concealed 
places near combustible materials. Safer 
than any other form of power, the electrical 
way of doing business is the best way 
when it is done properly. 

Electrical Terms. 

A volt is a measure of driving force in 
sending electricity through wires. It is the 
volt that kills. 

Ampere is the amount of electricity in 
the wires and causes fires. 

Volts multiplied by amperes equal watts 
and kilowatts. 

Resistance is measured by “Ohms.” It 
is the difference between high and low 
volts. 

There is a direct current machinery and 
alternate current machinerq. Alternating 
current is the most dangerous. 

Direct current is used on the elevated 
railroads and the subways at 660 volts. 

Alternating current is high tension, and 
is placed underground at from 2,200 to 6,600 
volts. 

There are two ways of causing electrical 
fires, namely, by getting too much current 
in the wire, thereby overheating same, also 
by a break in the wire, thereby causing a 
short circuit, thus causing an arc to form 
and set fire to the combustible matter 
around. 


304 



The chief protection against same is the 
use of fuses, which are weak pieces of wire 
placed on the current wire to burn off in 
case of over-pressure on the wire.. Fuses 
are safety valves for electricity placed in 
safe places on the wire where fire will do 
no damage in case of a short-circuit. Use 
larger wire to overcome this defect of over¬ 
heating. Short-circuiting is prevented by 
good insulation. Short-circuiting is the cur¬ 
rent taking a different course from which 
it is meant to go and grounded by wires 
running to giound. 

Electric fires are often caused by electric 
wires setting fire to gas in pipes leading to 
buildings. Good workmanship will avoid 
any danger of short-circuiting. 

Dampness causes troubles from electric¬ 
ity by causing a leak from same through 
walls and partitions, causing shock. All 
wires must be kept dry. 

Loft buildings use about 220 volts. 

Apartment houses use about 110 volts. 

The N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. uses 
about 11,000 volts. 

In case of an electrical fire in a building, 
pull the switch open quickly. The switch is 
usually located in the basement near the 
front of the building. There is no danger 
of being shocked by standing on the third 
rail of an elevated or subway, unless you 
stand on the running rail at the same time; 
then you form a circuit. In grounding a 
nozzle when discharging a stream on an 
electrical fire, place the nozzle against a 
hydrant or elevated pillar tightly, and avoid 
the danger of the current passing down the 
stream. 


FIRST AID TO INJURED. 

When you have an occasion to use 'a 
Medical Officer, the operator at the “plat¬ 
form” will be called up by the officer in 
charge of the company, and tell him that 
you desire a Medical Officer. The operator 
knows what Medical Officer is on duty, and 
will connect you with him. In case of an 
injury to a member of the Department, 
notify the Medical Officer of the character 
of his injury, in order that he may know 
what to bring with him to treat same. Also 
inform him of the nature of any case to 
guide him in answering calls. In cases of 
cuts and wounds, simply clean the cut or 
wound thoroughly and cover same with 
bandages or plaster, and unless complica¬ 
tion sets in it will heal itself. Wounds that 
are not cleaned thoroughly or taken care 
of will extend and cause septic wounds. 
Bacteria and microbes very often set in 
wounds and cause blood poisoning, which is 
very often the result of carelessness in not 
taking care of same, and can be prevented 
by keeping wounds clean. 

Wounds: Septic and Complicated. 

Do not treat septic wounds; refer these 
cases to the Medical Officer for treatment. 


Hemorrhages or bleeding are of different 
kinds. 

Arteries, Veins and Capillaries. 

The arteries in the body carry the blood 
from the heart to the tissues and finer capil¬ 
laries. The blood is in turn taken up by 
the veins, and returned to the heart on the 
right side. Heart valves are on the right 
side and pump blood through the lungs. 

Bleeding Wounds: Method to Stop Same. 

In case of a bleeding wound, use a tourni¬ 
quet to stop the flow of blood. Use any 
artery; after which wrap the wound up 
with a bandage. Use a stick on the end 
of the bandage and twist the same, applying 
pressure sufficient to stop the flow of 
blood. Then place the arm in an upright 
position and the bleeding will stop. 

Wound bleeding on the forearms: Ex¬ 
tend the arm and place a pad with a short 
piece of wood, and tie a bandage around 
the arm and around each end of the stick. 
This is called the “Forcible Flexion” form 
of a tourniquet. 

Following are the different ways to stop 
bleeding: First, simple pressure; second, 
forcible pressure; third, position, holding 
the arm upright; fourth, flexion; fifth, 
forcible flexion; sixth, tourniquet; seventh, 
hot-water applications. Rubber bandages 
are also used to make pressure and stop 
bleeding. 

Shock or Collapse. 

If a person is suffering either from shock 
or collapse it will cause the blood to stop 
flowing. When treating these cases, lay the 
patient down and elevate the head and ap¬ 
ply heat to the extremities. If necessary, 
resort to stimulants. 

Tetanus or Lockjaw: How to Prevent. 

Wounds neglected or dirty are prone to 
result in lockjaw. Keep the wounds clean. 
In cases of contusions or of fractures, keep 
the wounds clean; also keep the part af¬ 
fected quiet. Do not move the limb or 
force same, as by so doing you will be 
liable to cause a puncture. 

Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia is a good 
stimulant to be used in cases of shock. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

Sub-Cellar Fire. 

In case of a fire in sub-cellar it is the 
duty of the first company to arrive to 
locate the fire and see if it is possible to 
make cellar with line, and if fire is under 
good headway, first company will use sub¬ 
cellar pipe or connect to perforated pipes 
or sprinkler system equipment. If using 
perforated pipe, 50 or 60 lbs. pressure may 
cause pipes to break away from hangers 
under ceiling and fall to the floor. Second 
and third lines will cover elevator shafts 




or stairways on first floor, fourth line will 
if possible go down 25-foot ladder placed 
in hatchway in front; fifth line will go 
down 25-foot ladder in rear areaway, by 
way of adjoining building. First H. & L. 
to come will ventilate, open windows and 
doors, and lower a 25-foot ladder down 
hatchway in front and assist engine com¬ 
pany with line. Open doors and shutters 
and lower a 25-foot ladder down rear area¬ 
way, placing ladder at end of areaway and 
open windows or door at the other end, 
so as to insure man returning to ladder. 

In Reference to Kerosene Oil. 

Oil is refined by distillation and divided 
into different grades. The crude oil is 
refined into gasoline and benzine; what is 
left is used as fuel oil, kerosene of differ¬ 
ent grades, then paraffine, until finally the 
bottom of tank contains nothing but coke. 
The oil below 120 per cent, is not used in 
New York, but shipped and used outside 
of city. The only oil used is 150 per cent, 
test. The higher the grade, such as naph¬ 
tha and gasoline, the more quick it is to 
flash. The amount of air to cause an 
explosion is about 85 per cent, naphtha 
to 15 per cent. air. The oil is refined in 
stills, then stored in tanks, then put in 
cases and shipped. 

The proper way to extinguish is to first, 
cover your retreat, then keep adjoining 
tanks cool, and be careful not to allow 
water to enter burning tank. Oil will be 
drawn off by employees. Ascertain if pos¬ 
sible from person in charge of yard what 
tanks contain; also use sand or ashes to 
prevent spread of oil on fire. In case of 
fire among cases, stretch lines so that 
water will strike cases from above, and 
when sufficiently cool a dash of pipe will 
extinguish it. In case of varnish fires, 
close doors of building and keep lines 
against door to prevent spread of varnish 
on street, allowing fire to burst out. 

Paint Stores; Tailor Stores. 

See how naphtha is kept, and whether 
dangerous conditions are existing. Officers 
making inspections should ascertain con¬ 
ditions, where and how kept; in case of fire, 
H. & L. to promptly ventilate. Celluloid 
will not explode, but will flame very quickly. 
Nitric Acid will set wood on fire. Do not 
use water to extinguish, but sand or ashes. 

Ship on Fire. 

What to do on arriving at fire on ship. 
Report to officer in command of ship, and 
obtain chart of different compartments. 
This will give an idea of cargo and loca¬ 
tion of bulkheads. You can locate the 
fire by ventilators, as the heat and smoke 
will come through them, and all compart¬ 
ments have a ventilator leading into them. 

Open hatches and send line down, if 
possible. This depends a good deal on the 
nature of cargo. For instance, in the 
case of Jute and Saltpeter, it would be 


unwise to send men into hold with such 
a cargo. In that case flood through ven¬ 
tilators and hatch. Compartments can also 
be flooded through Sea Valves. Steam 
is already turned on in compartments on 
fire at a pressure at 100 lbs., which is 
about 600 per cent. -Fahrenheit. If steam 
is turned on in compartment, let it remain 
until your lines are ready, for the reason 
that the steam will hold the fire in check, 
but will not extinguish it until water is 
turned on. The water absorbs the unit 
of heat, thereby extinguishing the fire. 

Care must be taken that portholes are 
closed or other openings on the side where 
the fire is, as when compartment is flooded 
and ship starts to list, the water will pour 
through them, thereby causing ship to turn 
over. Also if ship is light, that is, with¬ 
out cargo, as the water in compartment 
will cause the ship to list more rapidly. 
A good way to balance the weight is to- 
flood the tanks on opposite side of ship. 

When flooding ship, see that the en¬ 
gineer on ship is not using bilge pump to 
empty water from compartment that is 
being flooded. Always make sure of the 
depth of water under ship, as when the 
boat settles and strikes on hard bottom 
it will turn over. 

To Raise 35-Foot Ladder. 

To raise 35-foot ladder, use four men. 
Two men on butt grasp third rung from 
bottom; two men on beam grasp' tenth 
rung from top. Work steady, hand over 
hand. Place butt of ladder opposite point 
where you want , ladder, and butt about 8 
feet from wall. A ladder under 25 feet one 
man on butt to steady ladder, and man on 
beam to raise ladder. 

To take ladder on roof between win¬ 
dows, raise ladder against building; then 
proceed to roof with men (except one 
man, who will remain on street to fasten 
rope on ladder) with hose roller, which 
will be lowered down to man on street, 
and an axe. The man on street will tie 
rope on 35-foot ladder, about fourteen rungs 
from point of ladder, using two half¬ 
hitches around rungs and beams, and 
a bowline directly in center between 
beams and safety hitch. Pull ladder up 
slowly, and when point appears over roof, 
have, men grab ladder on its beam, over 
cornice, until bowline knot passes over 
cornice. 

To Take Line of Hose to Roof. 

Stretch to front of building. Take off 
enough hose to get to roof, and always 
have at least two lengths of hose on roof. 
Send all men to roof with hose roller, 
roof rope, axe, nozzle and spanner, except 
one man, who will remain on street, and 
fasten two half-hitches and safety hitch 
about 2 feet from butt of hose. Draw 
line to roof and fasten over cornice with 
rolling hitch and safety hitch and then 
make rope fast to chimney. 


306 


To Stretch Up Stairway. 

Allow one length for each story, and 
one extra length for work on floor. Stand 
to the left of line, place pipe on right 
shoulder; lay your line around stairway 
and not through hole. Make sure of your 
water before opening door. When taking 
up or backing out of building the nozzle 
will be the last to come out. Break line 
on street outside of building. This will 
drain line of hose of water. Then back 
line out, nozzle last. This prevents hose 
getting coiled and catching around some¬ 
thing. 

To Stretch Line Up Fire Escape. 

When stretching up to 3rd or 4th floor, 
stretch throhgh well hole. If a high 
stretch, line will be taken on the outside 
of fire escape by means of rope. Fasten 
line in two or three places. The condi¬ 
tions existing will or might change this 
method. If standpipe is broken at 10th 
floor, or if a high stretch in a building not 
equipped with fire escape, take hose up 
front of building, same as you take line to 
roof, and fasten line in two or three places. 
Avoid long stretches on inside of building, 
as it exhausts men to do so. First line, 
however, is to go up inside nozzles on inside 
of buildings and on fire escapes. 

Controlling Nozzles on Streets and Roofs— 
To Open Iron Shutter. 

If fire escapes are on building, take three 
men with you, one with axe, one with hook, 
and one with claw tool. Start on top and 
work down on farther point of building to 
fire escape. Insert claw under shutter, lift 
up and start shutter on left-hand side (fac¬ 
ing building),. and strike below latch. 
Never open windows under men working 
above. When going to roof, always take 
roof rope with you, whether you need it or 
not, as it might be the means of saving your 
life. 


OVERHAULING. 

When fire has done great damage, wash 
down. Wool holds fire and requires care¬ 
ful watching. If fire is slight, don’t use 
too much water. Paper holds fire. Don’t 
throw it to one side; overhaul carefully. 
Cotton holds fire, especially cotton bat¬ 
tings. Soak in water or throw out in 
street. Coffee Mills, Wholesale Grocery 
Houses—dust and cheese cloth require 
watching. Open chute all the way through. 
Dust on top of machine is very explosive, 
and likely to cause fires and travel. Wash 
down thoroughly. Get can filled with 
water and soak belting. 

LUMBER—The fire in lumber piles 
generally remains in center of pile. Care 
must be used to see that fire is properly 
extinguished. 


they carry fire. Open them up till the 
lath show no evidences of fire, or you find 
the lath clean. 

WINDOW FRAMES.—The fire is liable 
to get behind frames in weight box re¬ 
cesses; have same opened. 

Slight fire in silk house. Don’t use much 
water; get can filled with water and soak 
burnt silk in same; also commercial 
houses. 

HAT AND CAP FACTORIES.—There 
is a good deal of shoddy used, which 
carries fire. Must be careful in overhaul¬ 
ing. Place shoddy in cans or throw in 
street. In overhauling, get goods to one 
side on clean floor. If floor is burnt 
through, open it till you find boards that 
don’t show fire, and avoid handling the 
same goods twice, but make sure you don’t 
cover any fire, or throw fire to one side. 

Edison Co. will give from 120 to 240 
volts. 

United Electric Company, 2,200 volts. 

Notify said companies as soon as pos¬ 
sible, and get current shut off. 

HOSE.—If line of hose bursts between 
4th floor and roof on six-story building, 
and you want to replace bursted length, 
if you have enough slack line on street, 
order the water shut off, then pull line up 
to roof, take out bursted lengths, then 
connect up with hose from roof. If you 
have no slack line on street, send man to 
have water shut off and line relieved. 
Have line broken near building on street, 
and place a length of hose in line. Then 
pull to roof. If line bursts below 3rd 
story, lower line to street and have a 
length of hose placed in line on street. 

Paradox Pipe Holder Stand. 

This is placed in position with the key 
facing you. The upper stand is placed in 
this key and turned around to the front. 
The rod is extended and fastened with 
set-screws. The 3-inch column, which 
works on a hinge, is opened and closed 
around 3-inch hose and locks with a pin 
on side collar. If a 2j4-inch hose is used, 
the 2^-inch collar will be placed around 
2^-inch hose and rest against 3-inch 
collar. 

To Send Line to Roof. 

To send line of hose to roof, have 
sufficient hose taken from wagon. Send 
men to roof (except one man, who will 
fasten and straighten line on street with 
a hose roller, roof rope, nozzle, axe, pipe 
holder, and hose wrench). The rope will 
be lowered over roof, hose roller will be 
placed in position over cornice and made 
fast to roof. The man on street will 
place two half-hitches and safety hitch 
around hose about 18 inches from end. It 
will be drawn to roof and fastened with a 
roll on hitch and safety hitch. 

Send ladder to roof, raise ladder to 
building. Place two half-hitches under 


PARTITIONS.—Be careful of lath and 
plaster partitions and other openings, for 

307 



and over rung beam of ladder on each 
side of ladder (except two or four rungs 
above center of ladder); then make a 
short bow-line in center of ladder between 
beams. Turn ladder over so that bow-line 
faces building, send men to roof with roof 
rope, hose roller (or ladder roller, if you 
have one), and an axe; pull ladder up to 
roof, station men to catch ladder as it ap¬ 
pears over cornice, and place two half¬ 
hitches over and from slack rope and pull 
in on roof. 

Tools and Connections by Cluip Worth and 
Norton Hart Cellar Pipe. 

Outhole 10 inches square. The pipe is 
fitted with a shut-off valve and is operated 
with a straight-rod, which has two small 
bars on end, and the word “stream” 
in center. In directing stream the pipe 
makes a complete circle, as it is fitted with 
a swivel joint. Sub-cellar pipe is divided 
into two sections, upper and lower. The 
upper section is a straight pipe, and the 
lower is a gooseneck, fitted with a collar 
and eyes for pins on chain and beams. To 
operate, connect upper and lower sections 
together, have handles all one way, place 
pin on chain in eyes of ring or goose¬ 
neck to the front of pipe, regulate chain 
there, fasten link to hook under beam, 
place beam at cross opening, lower pipe 
by a chain. The chains and beam, if pipe 
is in proper position, should be in front 
of upper section of pipe, and it is easily 
operated. (The 45 elbow is for the pro¬ 
tection of hose, and is connected to upper 
section of sub-cellar pipe.) 

Spherical nozzle (Bonner) and Brisnam 
distributor are both operated by connect¬ 
ing distributor to a short length of 2*4- 
inch hose, 8 feet long, which is provided 
with a single gate valve connection, which 
connects to a 254-inch hose. A hole about 
10 inches square is cut in floor, the dis¬ 
tributor is lowered down into cellar, and 
water started. Care must be taken that 
it is the proper distance from floor and 
ceiling. 


OPERATIONS AT FIRES. 

Ques. 1:—If a fire is on the 14th floor 
of a 16-story building, in high pressure 
district, what would you do? 

ANS.:—Stretch line from high pressure 
hydrant to Siamese connection on stand 
pipe, pressure at gauge at hydrant to show 
140 lbs. Send a man to 13th floor with 
two lengths of hose and disconnect house 
line and connect department hose. Try 
valves on the different floors and see that 
they are closed. The reason for the first 
company to stretch from floor below to fire 
is to keep line from becoming entangled and 
kinked. The second company is to take 
line on floor where fire is, if possible. 

Ques. 2:—Supply three lines from boat 
with three and one-half inch hose. 

ANS.:—The 3-way connection is con¬ 
nected to three and one-half inch hose, 


and a double female connection reduced 
from four and one-half inch to two and 
one-half inch is connected to male outlet 
on end of connection (not centre). This 
double female connection is connected to 
a short suction, four and one-half inches, 
which is connected to receiving side of 
engine at pump. 

Ques. 3:—The three and one-half inch 
hose bursts, and there is none on hand to 
replace same. Use proper hose and con¬ 
nections to replace same without decreas¬ 
ing volume of water. 

ANS.:—Remove bursted three and one- 
half inch hose, then replace a 2-way con¬ 
nection, increase from two and one-half 
inches to three and one-half inches on end 
of three and one-half inch hose. Stretch 
two lines of two and one-half inch hose 
from male outlet on this connection to a 
Siamese connection which is fitted with an 
increaser two and one-half inches to three 
and one-half inches, connect two and one- 
half inch hose to female connection on 
Siamese, then to three and one-half inch 
hose. 

Ques. 4:—Siamese connection to stand 
pipe is broken and cannot be used. 

ANS.:—Disconnect hose line on first 
floor, stretch three-inch house line connec¬ 
tion, which is a male: then use double 
female connection, reduced from three 
inches to two and one-half inches, -if you 
have two and one-half inch hose; connect 
two and one-half inch hose to house line 
with a double female connection. 

Ques. 5:—Cellar pipe straight with 
goose-neck, put in operation. 

ANS.:—Cut two holes about one and 
one-half to two feet apart, one for pipes 
and one for rods and cross rods on pipe; 
place pipe in one hole, then reach down 
and pull rod up. Square cross rods and 
place pin in fourth hole from top. 

Ques. 6:—Baker Cellar. Pipe put in 
operation. 

ANS.:—Cut hole about ten inches 
square. This pipe is fitted with a shut-off 
valve, and operated by a small handle 
which is also a guide in directing stream. 
This pipe does not make a complete cir¬ 
cle; you will have to shift hose to do so. 


SPRING AND HYDRAULIC TOWERS. 

How to Raise Spring Tower. 

Place tower in position in front of 
building and chock wheels, set axle 
clutches and pins on fifth wheel, and re¬ 
move horses. Stand on table, remove 
pin from lever and press down with foot. 
The spring in cylinders will raise tower 
mast automatically to angle 45 degrees. 
Then two men will raise to proper posi¬ 
tion; then place clutch in position. Then 
raise inner tube, straighten out 4-inch 


308 




hose as mast and tube go up. Then place 
Tormentor poles in position on side of 
mast. Connect 3-inch lines to connec¬ 
tions on outside (facing street centre). 
Open valve to supply mast, which is fitted 
with a relief valve set at 150 lbs. pressure 
to relieve excessive pressure. Place noz¬ 
zle in position by means of wheel located 
near bottom of mast, which is connected to 
a rod and extends up and alongside of mast 
to nozzle. 

Elevate or lower nozzle by means of 
cable operated by hand. In cold weather 
connect steam hose to steam pipe, which 
extends up and alongside of mast to inner 
tube; this pipe has a drain on end which 
permits steam to be used continually. 

Lower inner tube, straighten out hose 
as tube lowers, remove clutch that holds 
mast in position, then remove Tormentor 
poles from side of mast. Have men on 
turn table lower mast just off centre; then 
let go of handles, as the mast will lower 
automatically to an angle of 45 degrees, or 
until the pistons meet with resistance of 
springs. Then men will lower mast by 
hand, and have man on rear mast deck 
pipe to guide mast and cable in proper 
condition in brace that holds mast. Re¬ 
move pins from fifth wheel, axle clutches. 
Take 3-inch hose from side of tower, re¬ 
place horses, remove wheel chocks, then 
return to quarters. 


How to Operate Water Towers, Spring 
and Hydraulic. 

Place tower in position in front of 
building, set wheel chocks and axle 
clutches and pins on fifth wheel. Swing 
Tormentor poles in position on outside, 
remove horses (place roof pole on front so 
as to remove tower away from building 
quickly in case of necessity). 

Precautions: Try all valves and see that 
same are closed. Connect 3-inch lines 
to 3-inch couplings on tower (outside first) 
and have engine pump up a pressure of 125 
lbs. Watch pressure gauge, and when you 
have this pressure, open valve that admits 
water behind piston heads and at the same 
time open valve (lower valve) to relieve 
pressure that will form on the other end 
of cylinder. This will prevent compression 
and won’t allow a cushion to be formed in 
front of piston head, and you will have the 
same pressure on each side of piston head, 
and the result is that the piston won t move 
and the tower won’t release raise. 

Have man at deck pipe to guide cable 
so that it will not catch on pipe. When 
your mast is raised to a vertical position, 
close valves and place your clutches on 
Quadrant traveler and make fast. then 
extend inner tube by hand to the desired 
height; then place nozzle in position, inen 
open valve by Pasco, then main valve of 
reservoir, which supplies mast; straighten 
out length of 4-inch hose as tower goes 
up or down. 


To Lower Hydraulic Tower. 

Have nozzle facing rear, then lower 
inner tube, then unfasten clutches on 
Quadrant traveler, open valve and put 
pressure behind piston head so as to throw 
mast off centre. Then close this valve and 
open drain valve, which permits water to 
leave cylinder. This gives the piston head 
free motion and permits mast to lower. 
The Hydraulic Tower has not any relief 
valve; to relieve excessive pressure, open 
valves under reservoir. This will permit 
water to flow to street and relieve mast 
of excessive pressure. 


Description of Hydraulic Tower. 

One mast and inner tube, which can be 
extended to 65 feet; three connections on 
each side (six in all), 3 inches each, to 
supply mast, also pressure gauge for same. 

One length of 4-inch hose connected to 
mast, one deck pipe on rear, and three con¬ 
nections to supply same, each 3 inches, 
and pressure gauge also for deck pipe. 
Two cylinders to raise mast; has four 
valves, two to raise and two to lower; 
main valve from reservoir to mast; small 
valve on by-pass to be opened before 
opening main valve. This valve acts same 
as pilot valve on a High Pressure Hy¬ 
drant; it equalizes the pressure, or, in other 
words, when valve of by-pass is open, 
the main valve is not opened against the 
full pressure. Two axle clutches to steady 
tower; two Tormentor poles to steady 
tower; two pins on fifth wheel to prevent 
shifting; four wheel chocks. 

Inner tube is raised by hand by means 
of a cable on drum which is fitted with 
handle bars. 

Nozzle is revolved by means of gear 
wheel about 10 inches in diameter, which 
is connected to a rod which extends all the 
way up alongside of mast to nozzle. Noz¬ 
zle 'is raised or lowered by means of cables 
attached to two small wheels and operated 
by hand. Two clutches for purpose of 
fastening on Quadrant Traveler when mast 
is in position. A standpipe extends up side 
of mast to inner tube and is used in cold 
weather to prevent tower from freezing. 
When mast in inner tube is raised or 
lowered, straighten 4^-inch hose. It is 
possible to lower or raise inner tube while 
in operation by doing this. To relieve the 
excessive pressure, open valves underneath. 
Mast is raised by hydraulic pressure and 
inner tube by hand. 


Description of Spring Tower. 

One mast and inner tube which extends 
65 feet. One deck pipe on rear; three 
connections on each side (size 3 inches) to 
supply mast and deck pipe; one gate valve 
to supply mast; one gate valve to supply 
deck pipe; one pressure gauge (only) for 
mast and deck pipe line; two axle clutches; 
four wheel chocks; two Tormentor poles on 


309 


side; one relief valve; one thaw pipe, which 
extends up side of mast; one clutch for 
bracing mast; one length of 4-inch hose 
connected to mast; also leading to and con¬ 
necting with the reservoir. Two cylinders 
equipped with springs (piston heads) and 
raise mast automatically to an angle of 45 
degrees. The clutch that holds mast in 
position is fastened to cross heads on end 
of pistons. 


HIGH PRESSURE. 

Method of Operation at the High Pressure 
Stations. 

Only fresh water is used in operation of 
the high pressure system. Salt water, how¬ 
ever, will be available if necessary, as in 
case the high pressure service should give 
out for some reason or other, the high 
pressure mains can be filled with a gravity 
system, with a pressure of about 30 lbs. 
This supply can be furnished to the sta¬ 
tion through two 12-inch by-passes, by 
opening a single valve on each by-pass. 
On receipt of an alarm of fire in the high 
pressure zone, one pump is started and the 
pressure quickly raised to 125 lbs. 

And the pump will be kept going at this 
pressure until orders are received from the 
Commanding Officer at the fire to shut 
down, or to increase the pressure by start¬ 
ing more pumps. Attached to the pumps 
are what is called a regulating or relief 
valve, and it must be understood that the 
speed of the pumps is always the same, 
whether the pressure is 50 or 125 lbs.; so 
you can see with high speed on the pumps, 
and when low pressure is required, the re¬ 
lief valve is set to relieve at a low pres¬ 
sure, and the result and action is the same 
as on a fire engine. 

Relief Valve.—When this vaLve in a 
high pressure station relieves, the water 
passes from discharge side back to the re¬ 
lieving side. 

Pressure Required to Discharge Water 
100 Ft. High Through Standpipe. 

How to figure out the amount of pres¬ 
sure required to discharge water 100 feet 
high through a stand pipe: 

Stand pipe 100 feet high 

.434 

100 


43.400 

43 lbs. water pressure is required to dis¬ 
charge water through a standpipe 100 feet 
high. Then it would be necessary to allow 
7 lbs. pressure loss for each length of hose, 
and then add the nozzle pressure to the 
friction loss and the amount of pressure re¬ 
quired to discharge pressure required at the 
engine to discharge water effectively 100 
feet high. 


28 lbs. Friction loss 

30 lbs. Nozzle pressure 

43 lbs. Water pressure 

101 lbs. water pressure required to dis¬ 
charge water 100 feet high effectively. 

Description of a High Pressure Hydrant. 

A high pressure hydrant has three 3-inch 
outlets and one 4j4-inch outlet, making a 
total of four outlets on each hydrant. The 
diameter of the seat of the main valve is 6 
inches. Each outlet has a controlling valve 
to regulate the flow of water through each 
outlet. The main valve is somewhat like a 
double valve for this reason: its seat 
measures 6 inches in diameter and below 
the seat there is what is called a pilot valve, 
and is therefore for this purpose, and 
works as follows: 

The outlet valve and the main valve are 
to be operated in conjunction with one an¬ 
other in this manner: 

On the order to the men at the hydrant 
to start the water, the outlet valve should 
be kept closed, opening the main valve 
first, and when the main valve starts to 
raise off its seat, the pilot valve opens, first 
permitting the water under pressure to flow 
up and pass over main valve seat into the 
body of the hydrant, equalizing the pres¬ 
sure on both sides of the main valve seat, 
thereby making it very easy to open the 
main valve seat full. It must be remem¬ 
bered that the main valve should be opened 
full at all times. After main valve is 
opened full, open the outlet valve to let 
the pressure flow into the lines. The out¬ 
let valves can be regulated so as to give 
what pressure might be required on the line 
by raising or lowering the valve seat. The 
pressure on the line can be regulated while 
the nozzle is open, and when the nozzle is 
closed the pressure cannot be regulated. 
The outlet valves are called independent 
valves. 

Each hydrant is connected to a sewer 
drain so as to carry off the remaining 
water above the valve seat when the 
hydrant is shut off, so as to prevent freez¬ 
ing. Fire lines can be connected to each 
of those hydrants by using the 4^ x 3-inch 
2-way gate Siamese connections that are 
carried by all high pressure companies. 

High Pressure Area. 

The area covered by the system of mains, 
roughly speaking, is between the Bowery, 
Third avenue and Broadway on the east, 
and West street and Eleventh avenue on 
the west; 23d street on the north and 
Chambers street on the south, and includes 
about 1,454 acres. A zone of 400 or 500 feet 
outside this may be considered to be pro¬ 
tected by the system. There are about 50 
miles of pipe mains, varying in sizes and 
from 12 inches to 24 inches, and there are 
in service 1,272 hydrants. (Date, 1912) 
There are about 214 telephone boxes dis- 


310 




tributed throughout the system, one-half 
being connected to each station switch¬ 
board, and trunk lines connectiong both 
stations to Fire Headquarters, and to the 
Edison power stations, and also direct 
connection from street boxes to the sta¬ 
tions. 

All fire alarms are received through the 
city fire alarm system over a separate 
circuit on a punch register and time stamp 
in each station; also over a gong circuit. 

The pumping machinery, though of the 
type for whose use the service is desired, 
is of comparatively recent development 
and has proven satisfactory. The electrical 
stations are of ample capacity, as well as 
the feeders, and a duplicate system is pro¬ 
vided for. The distribution of the mains 
is well designed and adequate in all sec¬ 
tions of the district covered. The telephone 
and fire alarm systems are the best that 
could be installed. 

Salt Water High Pressure System. 

Provision to pump salt water if fresh 
water gives out: 

Boats to pump salt water will connect to 
High Pressure Hydrant, using a double 
three and one-half inch female connection 
reduced to three inches. Will notify 
Pumping Station to close valve on dis¬ 
charge main to prevent flooding station 
and fresh water supply; also ascertain the 
gravity pressure on hydrant. The boat 
will pump a pressure greater than gravity 
pressure. First, open independent valve; 
then main valve, if a second boat is re¬ 
quired. The pressure on second pump 
(boat pump) will exceed first boat by 
about 25 pounds, and if a third boat is re¬ 
quired, the pressure on third boat will ex¬ 
ceed second boat by about 25 pounds. 

Descriptions of High Water Hydrants and 
How to Operate Them. 

One pilot valve, one main valve with 
spindle, four outlets, three 3-inch and one 
4-inch, with a separate spindle for each. 
The inside face of valve is so constructed 
that the pressure is deflected so that the 
valves can be opened easily. Also one drain 

pipe rod. . 

The first few turns of main valve 
(centre spindle) opens out the pilot valve 
which is located below main valve, and 
allows water to flow over main valve for 
the purpose of equalizing the pressure, 
and permits main valve to be opened 
easily. Main valve should be opened full. 
The first valve to be opened is the main 
valve, and is also the last one to be 
closed. The hydrant connection, which is 
fitted with a pressure gauge, is then put on 
the hydrant nipple. The men stationed at 
the pressure gauge should be watchful and 
attend to this gauge, for the reason that 
if another fire should occur in the high 
pressure zone and the pressure on first hre 
should be reduced, the increased pressure 


for second fire would be so great and sud¬ 
den that accidents might result to men at 
pipe at the first fire. The pressure can be 
regulated by independent valve. The drain 
pipe works automatically, and is so ar¬ 
ranged that it opens when the hydrant is 
closed, and will close when the hydrant is 
open. Diameter of main valve is six inches 
—to open full, 21 turns. Diameter of pilot 
valve, 2 inches; independent valve, 3 inches 
in diameter; to open full, take 16 turns. In¬ 
dependent valve is \ l / 2 inches in diameter— 
take 21 turns to open full. 

How to put the Fire Boats to Work 
If the High Pressure Gave Out 
in Manhattan. 

To begin with, I would average the num¬ 
ber of gallons of water each boat would 
discharge against a pressure of 200 lbs. to 
the square inch, at about 5,000 gallons per 
minute, and if in charge of a fire, where the 
high pressure pumps gave out, and I found 
it necessary to put the fire boats to work, 

I would send out a special call by telegraph 
for the fire boats, Engine Co. Nos. 85—86— 
87, to proceed to station 299; and I would 
direct an officer to this point with all haste 
to direct the Commanding Officer of those 
boats to connect two 3k2-inch lines to each 
boat, and stretch same across on West 
Street, and connect up to the high pressure 
hydrants that are on the west side of the 
railroad track on West Street, and start 
water into the high pressure hydrants. 

In connecting those lines, it must be re¬ 
membered that the boat hose is Z l / 2 inches, 
and the hydrant inlet is 2 inches; so it will 
be necessary to increase the hydrant inlet 
to 3 y 2 inches by using an increaser and the 
use of a 3^4-inch double swivel connection 
to connect hydrant outlet to the male end 
of 3}4-inch hose. Those two tools can be 
procured from the boat. 

In starting the water into the high pres¬ 
sure mains, care must be exercised, for this 
reason: If all the hydrants were to be 
opened full and the boats were to start 
their pumps, the water would drive back to 
the boat pumps that were not started 
simultaneously and do great damage to the 
pumps. For this reason this method should 
be pursued: keep all the hydrants, except 
the first hydrant, closed, and have the first 
boat start its water into the high pressure 
mains first; and after this boat has started 
its water, have the other boats make up the 
pressure in the line of hose between the 
boat pump and the high pressure hydrant; 
and when this is done, open the high pres¬ 
sure hydrant and let the pressure flow into 
the mains. There is only one place for fire- 
boat connection on the west track and pier 
line running from Gansevoort to Chambers 
Street, and at the foot of James Slip, East 
River. 

High Pressure Service, Manhattan. 

There are two stations, one located at 
the southwest corner of Oliver and South 


311 


Streets, and the other at the northeast 
corner of Gansevoort and West Streets. 

At each station there are fire horizontal 
five-stage centrifugal electrically operated 
pumps, each with a capacity to deliver 
3,300 gallons of water per minute against 
a discharge pressure of 300 lbs. to the 
square inch, and suction lift of not exceed¬ 
ing 20 feet. The pumps are connected di¬ 
rect to motors; total capacity of both sta¬ 
tions 33,000 gallons per minute; spaces left 
in each station for three additional pumps. 

Each station is provided with two 20- 
inch suction mains, and two 24-inch fresh 


water mains, reduced down from 36 and 
30-inch mains, and two 24-inch discharge 
mains. The shaft water suction mains 
are automatically primed by motor-driven 
vacuum pumps, and may also be primed 
from the Croton supply. 

The motors are of the 3-phase induction 
type, operated at 6,300 to 6,600 without 
the aid of transformers. Each station has 
four separate electrical feeders, two from 
the water side station of the Edison Com¬ 
pany, and two from the nearest Subway 
station. Two of these feeders will operate 
five pumps. 


COMPANY SCHOOL INSTRUCTION AND OPERA¬ 
TIONS IN NEW YORK FIRE COLLEGE. 


Headquarters, School of Instruction—Fire 
Department Company School. 

EVOLUTIONS USED IN COMPANY 
SCHOOL. 

No. 1. 

Hoist line to roof outside of building, 
make line fast under cornice and on roof 
with approved knots. 

No. 2. 

Remove burst length from line between 
fourth floor and roof and between fourth 
floor and street; replace with new lengths. 

No. 3. 

Stretch two 3-inch lines from high pres¬ 
sure hydrant and connect to stand-pipe; fire 
on 6th floor. 

No. 4. 

Stretch 3-inch line from high pressure hy¬ 
drant, connect to stand-pipe floor valve in¬ 
side of building; outside connection is out 
of order. 

No. 5. 

Stretch three lines and make connections 
to turret pipe on hose wagon, and operate 
same with proper size nozzle. 

No. 6. 

Stretch two lines, connect to rail pipes on 
hose wagon and operate with proper size 
nozzles. 

No. 7. 

Stretch 3}4-inch line from Fireboat and 
connect to high-pressure hydrant. 

No. 8. 

Stretch 3}4-inch line from high-pressure 
hydrant and connect to Water Tower. 

No. 9. 

Siamese two 2j4-inch lines with one 3-inch 
lead line, put on Perfection pipe holder and 
proper size nozzle. 


No. 10. 

Stretch in as many 2^-inch lines as possi¬ 
ble to lead out with one 3H-inch line; put on 
Eureka pipe holder and proper size nozzle. 

No. 11. 

Stretch 3-inch line with 3 2j4-inch lead¬ 
ing lines which can be controlled independ¬ 
ently. 

No. 12. 

Stretch 3-inch line, put on Paradox pipe 
holder, with proper size nozzle. 

No. 13. 

Stretch 3-inch line and put on street pipe 
and stick, with proper size nozzle. 

No. 14. 

Stretch line by ladder to third floor and 
place line in proper position to operate 
through window, and fasten with ladder 
strap. 

No. 15. 

Stretch lines and make connections to cel¬ 
lar pipe; sub-cellar pipe; Baker pipe; Hart 
pipe; and distributors, and operate same. 

No. 16. 

Make proper connection to take suction, 
and place fresh water feed in service at fire. 

No. 17. 

Hoist 35-foot ladder to roof, and lower 
same to yard. 

No. 18. 

Raise and lower 35-foot ladder. 


No. 19. 

Raise and operate Aerial Ladder. 

No. 20. 

Discharge life gun, and throw line to roof. 


312 




DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATIONS. 

One of the first things to be remembered 
by those going up to the college is: Don’t 
expect to be handed things the way the com¬ 
pany before you got them. While the same 
form may be observed, the chances are that 
changes will be made in the arrangement. 
No list of the operations of a company is 
of any further help to another company 
except to let them know the different things 
to be done. Common sense is the big fac¬ 
tor. 

The men should get up to the college 
about a half-hour before the time to report. 
Go into the yard and into the house on the 
east side of the yard and look over the tools. 
The bunch who were up there yesterday 
have probably left the tools laying all over 
the place. Put all the reducers, increasers, 
nozzles, etc., where you can get them when 
called to do so. 

The hose you will find rolled up in the 
house is as follows: One length of 3Jcl¬ 
inch, five lengths of 5-inch, eight lengths 
of 2^-inch. 

Lock all half-hitches, bowlines, etc., with 
a binding knot. 

Try and keep the lugs on hose together 
when possible when coupling up. 

The first order is to carry the hose out 
into the yard. Lay it alongside of the house, 
the 3}4-inch against the house, the 3-inch 
next, and the 2j4-inch on the outside. Lay 
so it can be coupled together, every other 
length the opposite way, so that he and 
she butts are in position to connect/ Be 
sure that the 2^4-inch length nearest the 
building has the she end toward Sixty- 
eighth Street; this will leave it ready to 
connect to the low-pressure hydrant. Don’t 
connect the 2j4-inch to the 3-inch or the 
3-inch to the 3^-inch; leave one length of 
2}4-inch to replace a burst length. 

Operations Nos. 1 and 2. 

Stretch a 2j4-inch line over the roof of 
the old headquarters building. 

Three men stay in yard. Rest go to roof 
taking roof rope, hose roller. Roller is 
put in position and secured; rope is low¬ 
ered to yard; man on ground puts two half¬ 
hitches and binding knot on hose about four 
feet from butt; hose is hoisted to roof, 
two lengths taken up on roof, man on roof 
makes rolling hitch (three rolls and half¬ 
hitch) and binding knot just under the butt, 
rope is fastened to chimney, nozzle and 
pipe holder is put on and water called for. 
No water used. 

A supposed burst length is replaced. In¬ 
structor may tell you the burst length is 
in any part of the line, between the fifth 
and sixth floors or between the first and 
second. The proper method of replacing a 
burst length is: Raise or lower the nearest 
way to take out burst length. If near roof, 
lower hose so men in yard can put in 
a new length, then pull up to roof to take 
out burst length. If there is enough length 
in, don’t lower at all, but wait until the 
length is added in yard, then pull up and 


take the burst length out on the roof. If 
burst length is nearer the ground, lower 
nose, and men on ground take out and re¬ 
place. 

When ordered to take up, men on ground 
i eak hne at building, hose is lowered and 
placed as it was when you started, drop rope 
and man in yard, coil up same. 

Operation No. 3. 

Operate from standpipe of building. 

Roll up two lengths of 2^-inch hose, take 
controlling nozzle and axe and go up stairs. 
Let two men carry one length each to sec¬ 
ond floor and have two men follow to re¬ 
lieve them. Connect up to standpipe outlet 
on floor below the one the fire is supposed 
to be on. The men in yard will stretch two 
lines of 3-inch hose from high-pressure 
hydrant (two lengths in each line) to Siam¬ 
ese at building. Engineer to have single 
connection with gauge on one independent 
outlet, connect one line to this connection 
and place the other line on nipple of an¬ 
other independent outlet. 

Operation No. 4. 

How to connect to standpipe when the 
Siamese connection outside is broken. 

Stretch a 3-inch line (three lengths in 
line) from high-pressure hydrant, connec¬ 
tion with gauge to be on hydrant. Take 
line in to the first outlet on standpipe in 
building (this outlet in the old headquarters 
building is on the first landing, so don’t 
go up to first floor). Detach house line, 
put on increaser 2j4-inch to 3-inch, put on 
double female connection and connect the 
3-inch line you bring in to same. Call for 
water. (No water used, but the engineer 
turns on hydrant as if opening it.) 

Operation No. 5. 

Operate turret pipe on tender. 

There is a demonstrating tender at the 
College which consists of the front half 
of a tender and has a turret pipe mounted 
on it with three inlets on front. These in¬ 
lets are all 3-inch female swivel connections 
and have increasers screwed into swivels, 
increasing the male butts of hose which, are 
to be connected into swivels from 2 k 2 -inch 
to 3-inch. All the increasers have plugs in 
them. 

You are ordered to stretch one line of 
2}4-inch hose into center connection of 
wagon and two 3-inch lines to the outside 
connections. The large Siamese connection 
gate is placed on the 4 k 2 -inch outlet to the 
lower pressure hydrant, and the two 3-inch 
lines are put on same; the 2^4-inch line is 
put on the 2 ^ 2 -inch outlet of hydrant. 

While men are stretching to wagon have 
one man at wagon remove all the increasers 
from swivels, take the plug out of one of 
the increasers and hold the increaser in 
his hand and when the 2j4-inch line is 
brought to wagon screw the increaser on 
the hose and then connect to center inlet; 


313 


the other two lines being 3-inch hose, so 
no increasers are required. As soon as con¬ 
nections are made the officer calls, “Start 
your water,” and two men get upon wagon 
and operate turret pipe. 

Operation No. 6. 

Operate rail pipes. 

On the back of the half tender there are 
two rail pipes. These pipes are carried on 
all fireboats and are placed in sockets made 
for this purpose on rail of boats. The ones 
on the wagon are 354 inches and 254 inches 
respectively. You are ordered to stretch 
two 3-inch lines to these pipes (two lengths 
in each line). Connect the lines to the 
Siamese connection that is on the 454-inch 
outlet of the low pressure hydrant. Stretch 
to wagon. Put a reducer on the line that 
is to be connected to the 2}4-inch pipe and 
an increaser (from 6 inches to 3J4 inches) 
on the one that is to be connected to the 
354-inch pipe. Put on open nozzle. When 
connections are made the officer calls, 
“Start your water.” Two men get up on 
wagon and direct the pipes. 

You may be ordered to stretch any size 
lines to these pipes, a 254-inch and a 354- 
inch, or a 3-inch and a 354-inch, or two 
3-inch lines. See that the proper reducers 
and increasers are used, and don’t become 
confused. 

Operation No. 7. 

Make connections necessary for fireboats 
to supply the high-pressure system. 

The 354-inch line is stretched to the high- 
pressure hydrant; this line is supposed to 
come from a fireboat. Get the double 
female 354-inch on one end and 3-inch on 
the other, and put it on independent outlet 
of the high-pressure hydrant and con¬ 
nect the line to the double female. The en¬ 
gineer opens the independent valve first 
and then the main valve. The instructor 
may ask the engineer just what he would 
do if the connection was actually made dur¬ 
ing a fire. Engineer should tell him that 
after the connections are made he would 
wait until the fireboat had gotten a pressure 
of 150 pounds on line or a pressure at least 
equal to the pressure that was on mains 
before the system broke down if that pres¬ 
sure was less than 150 pounds, and as soon 
as the boat had developed the proper pres¬ 
sure he would open the independent valve 
of hydrant first and then the main valve. 

Operation No. 8. 

Stretch 354-inch line from high-pressure 
hydrant and connect to water tower. 

Demonstrating tender is used to represent 
tower. 

Put high-pressure hydrant gauge on 3- 
inch outlet of high-pressure hydrant. Put 
increaser 3 inches x 354 inches on gauge con¬ 
nection. Connect 354-inch hose to increaser. 
Put reducer 354 inches x 3 inches on male 
butt of 354-inch hose. Connect to center 
inlet of wagon. Make all connections tight 
by use of spanners. 


Operation No. 9. 

Siamese two 254 -inch lines with 3-inch 
lead line; put on Perfection Pipe Holder and 
proper size nozzle. 

Lay out two lengths of 254-inch hose, 
male butts toward old headquarters build¬ 
ing. Connect to Siamese 254 inches x 3 
inches. Connect 3-inch line to outlet side 
of Siamese. Put 154 -inch open nozzle on 
3-inch line. Put Perfection Pipe Holder on 
nozzle. Be sure the two spring catches are 
properly fastened on the lugs of the male 
coupling of the hose, and securely fasten 
strap on hose. Adjust stick of holder, by 
pulling same out full length, and hold line 
in position as if you were trying to operate a 
street stream. 

Operation No. 10. 

Stretch four 254-inch lines into one 354- 
inch line. 

Get the four-way Siamese. This connec¬ 
tion has four 254 -inch inlets (female) and 
one 354-inch outlet (male). Connect four 
254 -inch lines to connection and put the 354- 
inch length to outlet. Get the “Kenlon 
Eureka Pipe Holder,” put in position, put 
line in collar of holder, lock the collar on 
hose so about 18 inches of hose is extending 
through collar (don’t lock collar on butt 
or on pipe), put on open pipe (the open 
nozzle for the 354-inch hose has a 2-inch 
opening). When ready call for water. (No 
water used, no connection being made to 
hydrant.) The purpose of allowing about 
18 inches of hose to extend through the 
collar is to enable the men on pipe to move 
it in any direction when operating same. 

Operation No. 11. 

Operate three 2}4-inch lines from one 354- 
inch line. 

Get the three-way yoke connection with 
gates. Stretch three 254-inch lines (one 
length each) from the outlets; put on con¬ 
trolling nozzles. Connect the 354-inch 
length to inlet. Have the Siamese hydrant 
connection on the 454-inch outlet of the low- 
pressure hydrant and connect the 354-inch 
line to it, using an increaser (from 3 inches 
to 354 inches). ( No water used.) 

Operation No. 12. 

Operate “Paradox” pipe holder. 

Get the “Paradox” pipe holder, put base 
in position and be sure the key slot is away 
from the building at which you are to 
direct the stream, put in hose holder. 
Stretch a 3-inch line from the high-pressure 
hydrant, have single connection with gauge 
on hydrant. Put the hose in holder and 
lock collar. Have the stick which regulates 
the elevation or lowering of holder in a 
vertical position. When connections are 
made officer calls, “Start your water.” (No 
water used.) In elevating or lowering nozzle 
when operating with “Paradox” holder, use 
the set screw which holds the stick, letting 
the holder move up and down on stick and 
dent shift stick from vertical position. 


314 


Operation No. 13. 

Operate with play-pipe. 

The play-pipe is a long nozzle such as are 
carried on engines just behind the driver’s 
seat, one on each side. 

Get the play-pipe and stick which is used 
to support it. Stretch a 3-inch line from 
high-pressure hydrant and connect to play- 
pipe. Put stick in sockets and call for 
water. ( No water used.) 

Operation No. 14. 

To operate a line from a ladder. 

The man with the life belt on takes a 
2j4-inch line up to top of ladder, snaps 
himself on, puts nozzle through between the 
top round and the round below, places 
ladder strap on top round and fastens strap 
to hose. Nozzle should be in just about 
an arm’s length or so man can hold nozzle 
and direct same. 

You may be told to operate line into first 
floor from center of ladder. If so, man 
with life belt on backs down to center of 
ladder, snaps himself onto round, puts noz¬ 
zle through ladder, puts ladder strap on 
round and fastens hose to same. Strap 
should hang on under side of ladder. 

Operation No. 15a. 

Operate cellar pipe. 

All connections on cellar pipes are 2, l / 2 - 
inch. 

There is a portable platform about ten 
feet high at the College on which all cellar 
pipes and distributors are operated. 

Stretch a 2^-inch line from the low 
pressure hydrant and connect to cellar pipe. 
Take cellar pipe up on platform, put pipe 
through hole so the arms rest on platform 
and adjust arms so pipe hangs properly. 
Two men get down two steps from top of 
platform and direct pipe. Start water. 

Operation No. 15b. 

Operate sub-cellar pipe. 

There are four parts to a sub-cellar pipe, 
namely, lower section (curved pipe; with 
nozzle); upper section (straight pipe); top 
elbow (short elbow to which hose is con¬ 
nected), and bar and chain. 

Connect the upper and lower sections, 
being sure to get the handles on both in 
line; put the divided chain through the 
holes in lower section. Have the bar and 
chain in front of pipe. Put the chain on 
hook on bar. Connect the elbow to upper 
section and connect a 3-inch line to elbow, 
using a reducer. (All connections on a sub¬ 
cellar pipe are 2j4-inch.) 

The sub-cellar pipe is put together while 
laying on the ground. No facilities have 
been made at the College to place the pipe 
in a vertical position as it would be to actu¬ 
ally operate it at a fire, so the instructor 
explains its use while it is laying on the 
ground. 

Operation No. 15c. 

Operate “Baker” cellar pipe. 

Stretch a 2^-inch line and connect to 
“Baker” cellar pipe. Take cellar pipe up on 
platform. Put down through the hole in 


top of platform and have crossbar rest on 
platform. Man on top step directs pipe. 
Have nozzle pointed down and start water. 

There is a shut-off gate on the “Baker” 
pipe at the College; see that lever of gate 
is on a line with the horizontal part of pipe 
and not at right angles to it; if at right 
angles the gate is closed. 

Operation No. 15d. 

Operate “Hart” cellar pipe. 

Same operation as the “Baker.” Leave 
line stretched and take off “Baker” and put 
on “Hart.” 

The “Baker” and “Hart” cellar pipes are 
used for the same purposes and in the same 
way. The main mechanical differences in 
the construction of these pipes are: On 
“Baker” the horizontal and vertical pipes 
are brazed together, making one pipe; the 
“Hart” has the two pipes hinged together 
and folds by bending. On “Baker” the rod 
which controls the nozzle is on the outside 
in front of vertical pipe; on “Hart” it is 
inside of vertical pipe. On “Baker” the noz¬ 
zle can only be made to turn 2-3 of a cir¬ 
cle; on “Hart” the nozzle can be turned in 
complete circle. On “Baker” there is a long 
lever from rod which controls nozzle, 
enabling the operator to get back away from 
the hole through which pipe is placed. On 
“Hart” the rod which controls nozzle is 
carried up straight above the vertical pipe 
and has a short “T” handle. In operating 
the “Hart” the operator will be directly 
over the hole through which pipe is placed, 
but there is a spray on vertical pipe just 
below where the horizontal and vertical 
pipe are joined which prevents the smoke 
from coming up through the hole. 

Operation No. 15e. 

Operate “Bresnan” distributor. 

Stretch 2^-inch line from low-pressure 
hydrant. Get the short length with gate; 
connect to 2^4-inch line; put on “Bresnan” 
distributor. Take up on platform, and put 
down through hole and start water. 

Operation No. 15f. 

Operate “Bonner” distributor. 

The “Bonner” distributor is. the one with 
the two “S” shaped nozzles and is some¬ 
times called a “spherical” distributor. 

Leave the 2^4-inch line the way it is. 
Take off the “Bresnan” and put on the 
“Bonner” distributor. Start water. 

Operation No. 16. 

Make all connections necessary for an 
engine to take suction from river. 

Get strainer, short 4-foot suction and 8- 
foot suction, fresh water connection and a 
long piece of j4-inch rope. 

Connect the strainer, 4-foot suction and 
8-foot suction together. Put end of rope 
through an eye on strainer and make a bow¬ 
line. Don’t forget to bind bowline. Make 
a bight around the 4-foot suction just below 
butt where the two suctions are coupled and 
be sure to have bight snug and tight. Lay 
two lengths of 2}4-inch hose in yard and 
put fresh water connection between them. 


Don’t try to make any connection to any 
hydrant; remember you are supposed to be 
going to work at a dock and if there was 
any hydrant near you would not have to 
make this connection. 

Operation No. 17. 

Send a 35-foot ladder to roof. 

Ladder is laid on ground, top toward 
building. 

Three men stay in yard, the rest go to 
roof carrying hose roller and roof rope. 
Lower rope down. One man makes two 
half-hitches on each side at the fourteenth 
round from top and then makes bowline. 
Make all knots tight and have bowline one 
round above where hitches are tied. Don’t 
forget the binding knot on bowline. Two 
men turn ladder and men on roof pull up. 
When it reaches the roof turn on beam and 
pull in. 

Lower ladder to ground; men on ground 


take hold of the butt as it comes down, pull 
out butt and lay on ground. 

Drop rope and man in yard; coil up. 

Operation No. 18. 

Raise and lower 35-foot ladder. 

Operation No. 19. 

Raise and operate aerial ladder. 

Operation No. 20. 

Shoots life line to roof. 

Two men go to roof and keep away from 
edge. Man shoots projectile carrying light 
line to roof. When projectile reaches roof, 
one man takes the rest of cord in canister, 
makes a couple of long bends in it and ties 
two half-hitches to end of roof rope. Don’t 
tie on straight rope; make a bowline and 
tie to bowline. Men on roof haul up. 

Drop roof rope to yard and man coils up 
same. Don’t throw the projectile down, 
but lower by light cord. 


FIRE COLLEGE AND OTHER PROBLEMS. 


(Fire College Questions.) 

Question:—You are the officer in charge 
of a fire at which there is a fireboat whose 
capacity is 6,500 gallons of water per min¬ 
ute. The boat is operating three stand¬ 
pipes with 2-inch nozzles and five lines 
stretched ashore with 154 -inch nozzle. 
How many more 154-inch effective streams 
can the boat supply, the pressure on the 
pumps being 150 pounds and seven lengths 
of 254 -inch hose in each line? 

ANSWER:—Allowing about 20 pounds 
friction loss in the pipe that leads from the 
pumps to the standpipes, I would assume 
that there were 130 pounds pressure on the 
2-inch nozzles, and 100 pounds pressure on 
the 154 -inch nozzle, and work out problem 
as follows: 


130(11.4 Sq. R. of N. Pr. 

1 

30 

21 21 
900 

224 896 

Factor .248 

7 lengths 


1.736 

Constant 1.1 


2.836)150.000(53 Noz. Pr. 
154-inch Nozzle: 

1.25 

1.25 


2-inch Nozzle: 

2 

2 

4 

11.4 Sq. R. of N. P. 

16 

4 

4 

45.6 

29.7 Bar. Pr. 

3192 

4104 

912 


1354.32 Gals., one 2-inch Noz. 
3 Standpipes 

4062. Gals. 


1.5625 

7.25 Sq. Rt. of Noz. Pr 


78125 

31250 

109375 


11.328125 

29.7 Bar. Pr. 


79296875 

101953125 

22656250 


336.4453125 Gals. 
5 lines 


1680 Gals. 

discharging 

4062 

3 Standpipes 

1680 

5 154-inch lines 

6742 

Gals. 


316 












Boat can supply 2 more 254 -inch lines 
with lJ4-mch nozzles. 

The following is the rule governing the 
solution of this example: Square size of 
nozzle. Get square root of nozzle pressure; 
multiply by barometric pressure. This 
gives amount of gallons per line. Then 
divide into capacity. 

29.7 is barometric pressure. 

Ques. 1:—A fireboat of 6,500 gallons 
capacity has a turret pipe with a 2-inch noz¬ 
zle, five 254 -inch lines with six lengths and 
a 154 -inch nozzle on each; and a pressure 
of 150 pounds at the pumps. How many 
more lines can be supplied without over¬ 
loading the pumps? 

ANS.:—-A turret pipe with a 2-inch noz¬ 
zle can discharge approximately 1,450 gal¬ 
lons per minute, and as one line with six 
lengths of 2^-inch hose with a 154 -inch 
nozzle with discharge approximately 351 
gallons per minute, five lines will discharge 
1,755 gallons of water per minute, which 
would allow the boat to supply nine more 
lines without overloading the pumps. 

2 inch nozzle 

2 

4 

12.2 

48.8 

29.7 

3416 

4392 

976 


1449.36 gals, per minute 

12.2 


V15000 
1 

50 

22 44 

600 

242 484 

.248 factor 
6 


1.488 

1.1 


2.588)150.000(58 noz. pr. 
12940 


20600 

20704 

7.61 


V58 nozzle pressure 
49 

900 

146 876 

2400 

1521 1521 


154-inch nozzle: 

1.25 

1.25 

625 

250 

125 


1.5625 

7.61 sq. of noz. pres. 


15625 

93750 

109375 


11.890625 

29.7 bar. pres. 


83234375 

107015825 

23781250 


353.1517625 
5 lines 

1765 gals, for 5 lines 

1450 turret 

3215 

3117 

6332 gals. 

353 gals., 1 line 
9 

3177 

Boat would be able to supply one turret 
with 2-inch nozzle and 14 lines with six 
lengths of 254 -inch hose with 154 -inch noz¬ 
zles and have 58 pounds nozzle pressure, 
discharging approximately 353 gallons on 
each line. 

Ques. 2:—There is a fire in a building 
which is 314 feet high and has a 15,000-gal¬ 
lon water tank on the roof. What pressure 
would be obtained on the sixth floor from 
the standpipe with two lengths of 254 -inch 
hose and 154 -inch nozzle, allowing 1254 feet 
to each floor? 

ANS.:—The building being 314 feet in 
height, with a tank on the roof containing 
15,000 gallons of water, and as the tank is 
supposed to be about 20 feet above the 
highest outlet, figuring 1254 feet per story, 
it would be approximately about 26254 feet 
from the tank to the sixth floor outlet. You 
would receive approximately 114 pounds 
pressure, but must deduct 28 pounds for 
friction loss for a flow of 347 gallons of 
water, which gives you 86 pounds pressure 
at the nozzle. 


317 













From sixth floor to tank on roof is 21 
stories. 

21 

12.5 


105 

42 

21 


262.5 feet 

144)62.500(.434 
576 

490 

432 

580 

576 

.434 is the weight of one cubic foot or 
column of water, as a cubic foot of water 
weighs 62^2 pounds. 

.434 

262.5 


2170 

868 

2604 

868 


113.9250 lbs. gravity pressure 
on 6th floor outlet 

Friction loss on two lengths of 2^2-inch 
hose would be about 28 pounds, and with 
a nozzle pressure of 86 pounds would be 
discharging approximately 347 gallons of 
water per minute. 

Ques. 3:—It is necessary to flood the hold 
of a ship with a fireboat of 11,€00 gallons 
capacity. How many 3^-inch open butts 
would be necessary to use with 40 pounds 
on the pumps? 

ANS.:—As one line will discharge ap¬ 
proximately 2,299 gallons per minute, you 
would be able to supply five 3j4-inch open 
butts: 

3.5 inch hose 

3.5 

175 

105 


12.25 

6.32 sq. root of pres. 


2450 

3675 

7350 


77.4200 

29.7 bar. pres. 


5419400 

6967800 

1548400 


2299.37400 gals, per min. 
4 


6.32 


V 40 lbs. pressure 
36 

-- 

400 
123 369 

3100 
1262 2524 


Boat could supply four lines, and could 
supply another line if necessary, as there 
is very little friction. 

Ques. 4:—The capacity of the Coney 
Island Station is 4,500 gallons a minute, 
how many 1^-inch streams will it supply 
at 150 pounds pressure, six lengths of 2y 2 - 
inch hose in each line? 

ANS.:—One line with six lengths of 2 1 / 2 - 
inch hose, with lJ4-inch nozzle, at 150 
pounds pressure, will approximately dis¬ 
charge 351 gallons of water per minute. It 
will be able to supply 12 lines nicely. 

351 gals., one line 
12 lines 

702 

351 

4212 

Shows that 12 efficient streams can be 
provided, each discharging over 351 gallons 
per minute, with 58 pounds nozzle pressure, 
and quite able to extinguish a fire of large 
proportions. 

Ques. 5:—There is 175 pounds pressure 
on the high pressure system. Two 3-inch 
lines are stretched into the deck pipe of 
the water tower, six lengths each. Another 
line of the same size and length is stretched 
into the same pipe from the high pressure 
hydrant. What advantage is gained from 
stretching this third line? 

ANS.:—The advantage gained by stretch¬ 
ing the third line would be both in velocity 
and volume, and the pressure could be 
maintained by the reduction of the friction 
loss. This can be seen from the following. 
Also, a larger nozzle could be used. 

One line (192 factor for 3-inch hose with 
l^-inch nozzle): 

.192 factor 
6 lengths 


1.152 

1.1 


2.252)175.000(77 lbs. noz. pres, discharg- 
15764 ing appr. 585 gals., and 

shows 98 lbs. friction 
loss 


9196 


17360 

15764 


















Two lines stretched into th 
with 154-inch nozzle: 


e water tower 


.051 factor 
6 lengths 


.306 

1.1 


ANSWER (2):— 

Factors for different size Nozzles for 
Horizontal and Vertical distances. 

Inch Inch Inch Inch 

VA i l A iH i l A 

8 10 12 14 


1.406)175.000(124 lbs. nozzle pressure, and 
only 51 lbs. friction 

Shows that the loss on second line would 
add 47 pounds more nozzle pressure, and 
the third line would reduce the friction loss 
a good bit, and it is advisable to use either 
1M or 2-inch nozzles. 


Multiply the nozzle pressure by the fac¬ 
tor 2.3, and then by the decimals 10 and 4 
for Horizontal, and by 10 and 5 for Ver¬ 
tical; then extract the Square, which gives 
the distance of each. 

Horizontal. 

60 lbs. 

2.3 


180 

120 


MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS AND 
ANSWERS. 

(Questions asked of the Chronicle by 
members of Engine Co. 262, Feb., 1912.) 

Ques. 1:—Three fires occur on the lower 
West Side of Manhattan. Two are of 10,- 
000 square feet area each, and one of 2,500 
square feet. How much water would be re¬ 
quired? How much hydrant pressure is 
necessary, and can one pumping station 
supply it? 

Ques. 2:—How far can water be thrown 
vertically and horizontally through a 1%- 
inch nozzle with 60 pounds pressure on noz¬ 
zle? Show your answers in figures. 

ANS. (1):—With three fires at the one 
time, the amount of water required would 
depend on the extent of the fire at each 
location. 

We will assume that there are four alarms 
necessary at each of the first two. fires. 
That would bring about 20 companies at 
each, with 3-inch lines and lk 2 -inch noz¬ 
zles. If there were 27 lines at each of these 
fires, and say the other fire necessitated a 
third alarm and 14 companies responded, 
there would be about 64 lines, and with all 
of these lines at the one time you would 
require and obtain at least 35,000 gallons 
per minute, discharging ample volume for 
effectiveness against any fire. 

About 250 pounds at the hydrant would 
be necessary, which could easily be ob¬ 
tained and supplied by the pumping sta¬ 
tions. 

As there are two pumping stations with 
6 pumps in each, and at fires which the De¬ 
partment has had to contend with (note 
the recent demonstration of the High Pres¬ 
sure System) they have used 5 pumps at 
one station and 2 at the other, leaving the 
other pumps to spare, and as it is one gen¬ 
eral distributing system which both stations 
can supply, each taking care of a section, 
one station could supply it, should it be ab¬ 
solutely necessary. Under ordinary cir¬ 
cumstances, however, it would be better to 
use both stations and obtain better results. 


138.0 

10 


1380.0 

4 


V5520.0(74 feet 
49 

144 620 

576 

Vertical. 

60 

2.3 

180 

120 


138.0 

10 


1380.0 


V6900.0(83 feet 
64 

163 500 

489 

Underwriters’ Book shows 75 feet Hori¬ 
zontal and 84 feet Vertical. 

Vertical and horizontal distances are 
based on experiments at different nozzle 
pressures. 


(Questions asked of the Chronicle by 
members of H. & L. 75, Dec., 1911.) 

Ques. 1:—What loss in friction does the 
Fire Department allow in different sized 
hose, or is it uniform in all sizes? 

Ques. 2:—What barometric pressure does 
the Fire Department take, 29.9 or 30? 

Ques. 3:—Does the Fire Department al¬ 
low any loss for friction in Siamese con¬ 
nections when lines are Siamesed, and what 
is it? 

Ques. 4:—Will the Fire Department fig¬ 
ures be taken in judging the papers at the 


319 











coming examination for Assistant Fore¬ 
man, or will the Board of Fire Underwrit¬ 
ers’ figures be taken? I understand the 
friction loss is taken differently by the two 
concerns. 

ANS. (1):—Regarding friction allowed in 
various sized hose, there are three things to 
be considered. First, the size of hose. The 
larger the hose the less the friction. Sec¬ 
ond, the quality of the hose lining. The bet¬ 
ter the lining the less the friction. Third, 
the pressure of the number of gallons of 
water passing through the hose. 

ANS. (2):—The pressures on the various 
sizes of hose can be determined by Free¬ 
man’s tables, which are the only ones in ex¬ 
istence. They can be seen at the Pratt In¬ 
stitute Library. 

(NOTE:—See the Chronicle’s 1916 book, 
“Fire Dept. Hydraulic Problems, and How 
to Work Them.”) 

The most common figure taken in the 
Fire Department for Barometric pressure 
is 29.7. 

ANS. (3):—The Fire Department allows 
about 354 pounds loss by friction in Siam¬ 
ese connections when lines are Siamesed. 

ANS. (4):—If at the examination such 
figures are called for and the question fails 
to specify whether to use Fire Department 
or Fire Underwriters’ figures, use Fire De¬ 
partment figures and state that they are 
Fire Department figures. You could hardly 
be demerited for using Fire Department fig¬ 
ures unless the question calls for Fire Un¬ 
derwriters’ figures. 

(NOTE (1916). The Fire Dept, in De¬ 
cember, 1915, revised its figures, but they 
are still not as accurate as the Underwrit¬ 
ers' Tables.) 

NOTE (May, 1914)The Chief of the 
Department at the Fire College is using the 
Underwriters’ tables, and it is advisable to 
use them and show the Nozzle Pressure 
when the pressures from the Engines or 
High Pressure Hydrants are obtained by 
the Gauges, when the Friction loss is ob¬ 
tained, by using the factors as shown in this 
book. 

Ques.:—You respond to an alarm of fire 
and you find the fire is located on the 6th 
floor of a 20-story building. You go to 
work from the standpipe stretching 2 lines. 
You use one length of hose in each line and 
a 1^4-inch nozzle. You work 45 minutes. 
How many gallons of water did you use? 

There is a tank on the roof containing 
20,000 gallons of water, to which the stand¬ 
pipe (6-inch) is connected. You may as¬ 
sume that the stories are 12 feet high. In 
answering this problem please give the 
work, and, if any standard rules or meas¬ 
urements are given, please explain them. 

ANS.:—The building is 240 feet high. 
The height from the street to the sixth 
floor is 60 feet. The height from the sixth 
floor to the roof is 180 feet. 


Multiply 180 feet 

434 wt. of water per ft 

720 

540 

720 


78.120 = amt. of lbs. pressure. 

14 lbs. deducted for friction on 2 
- lengths of hose. 

64.120 lbs. pressure. 

To find out the number of gallons used, 
multiply the square of the nozzle by the 
square root of the pressure, and then mul¬ 
tiply the result by the Barometric pressure, 
which is usually 29.7. 

The square of the 154-inch nozzle is 
1.265. 

Sq. of 154-inch Noz. 8 

1.265 - 

8 Sq. of N. P. V 64 N.Pr. 


10.120 

29.7 Bar. Pr. 


70840 

91080 

20240 


300.5640 Gals, in 1 min. 
45 Minutes 


15027200 

12022560 


13525.2800 No. of gals, used in 45 min¬ 
utes (Ans.). 


OFFICIAL ORDER ON FRICTION 
LOSS. 

New York, December 14, 1915. 
Special Order No. 226: 

For the Information of the Uniformed 
Force. 

Friction loss in hose shall be computed 
according to the following formula, taking 
100-foot lengths as a unit: 

FOR FRICTION LOSS IN 354-INCH 
HOSE. 

For a flow of 500 to 1,200 gallons per 
minute. For the first 500 gallons allow a 
loss of 954 pounds, and for each 10 gallons 
over 500, up to 1,200. add 3-5 of a pound to 
the 954 pounds. 

FOR FRICTION .LOSS IN 3-INCH 
HOSE. 

For a flow of 200 to 400 gallons per min¬ 
ute. For the first 200 gallons allow a loss 
of 4 pounds, and for each 10 gallons over 
200, up to 400, add 54 of a pound to the 4 
pounds. For a flow of 400 to 700 gallons 


320 











per minute. For the first 400 gallons allow 
a loss of 14 pounds, and for each 10 gallons 
over 400, up to 700, add 4-5 of a pound to 
the 14 pounds. 


FOR FRICTION LOSS IN 2^-INCH 
HOSE. 

For a flow of 200 to 400' gallons per min¬ 
ute. For the first 200 gallons allow a loss 
of 10 pounds, and for each 10 gallons over 
200, up to 400, add 1 and 1-3 pounds to the 
10 pounds. 

To obtain the discharge or flow from any 
size nozzle, the following formula will be 
used: • 

1st. Multiply the diameter of the nozzle 
by itself. 

2nd. Multiply above produced by 30. 

3rd. Then multiply the above result by 
the square root of the nozzle pressure. 


NOTE:—Many years ago an order was 
issued in the New York Fire Depart¬ 


ment providing for an allowance of 7 
pounds friction loss per length of hose, 
this was intended only for rough and ready 
emergency calculation, but so long as the 
°l e L» was not revoked, many members of 
the Department used it as a standard, al¬ 
though knowing the Underwriters’ Tables 
to be far more accurate. The 7-pound rule 
was never revoked until by the issuance of 
the foregoing order.—EDITOR. 


NOTE ON FRICTION LOSSES. 

Owing to the fact that the answers in 
the different examinations are by various 
persons, the methods of working out prob¬ 
lems and the formulas used are not uniform. 
Sometimes this leads to different results, 
and sometimes not. The formulas, how¬ 
ever, are not as important for examination 
purposes as the methods of arriving at re¬ 
sults. The tables of the National Board of 
Fire Underwriters as given in their booklet, 
“Fire Engine Tests and Fire Stream Ta¬ 
bles,” may be regarded as standard. These 
tables may be found in the Chronicle’s book, 
“Fire Department Hydraulic Problems, and 
How to Work Them.” 








321 



BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT AND 

PRACTICE. 


1. STEAM FIRE ENGINES. 

A. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

A steam fire engine is a portable pump, 
consisting of three parts, viz., the frame to 
which the wheels, brakes and traction ap¬ 
pliances are attached, the steam-generating 
apparatus and the engine and pump. Trac¬ 
tion may be furnished by horses, or the en¬ 
gine may be propelled by a motor separate 
from the pump engine. When the steam 
power is applied by suitable mechanism to 
drive both the pump and the wheels, the 
engine is known as a self-propeller. 

The steam-generating plant consists of a 
furnace and a boiler. Many types of boilers 
are employed which vary in minor partic¬ 
ulars, but the tubular and the water-tube 
boiler are the types commonly used. 

In the tubular boiler the flame passes 
through the tubes and heats the water that 
is inside the boiler. 

In the water-tube boiler the flame passes 
outside the tubes and heats the water con¬ 
tained in the tubes. 

Cannel coal is the fuel generally used. 

A steam blower is placed in the funnel 
so that the draft may be increased when 
necessary. 

The engine exhausts its steam into the 
funnel when working, in order that a strong 
upward draft may be made through the fire. 

The smokestack is sometimes fitted with 
a telescopic tube that may be raised to in¬ 
crease the draft. 

When in quarters steam is supplied to the 
engine boiler from the engine heater. Con¬ 
nections are made between the engine and 
the heater through pipes in which are valves 
that automatically close when the engine 
pulls out. 

The fuel, which is always ready on the 
grates, is then lighted to generate a working 
pressure of steam. 

The steam engine and the pump are di¬ 
rectly connected. 

Rotary types are sometimes employed, 
but the reciprocating type is that usually 
found, the vertical motion being changed at 
the end of the stroke by cranks or links. 

A plain slide valve is the type generally 
employed on the steam cylinders to admit 
steam during the working stroke and to ex¬ 
haust it on the return stroke. 

Drip-cocks on the steam cylinders and 
valve chest allow the water of condensation 
to be removed. 

Drip-cocks on water pumps and pipes are 
used to drain off the water in cold weather. 

The valves on the pumps are of various 
patterns, but designed with the same ob¬ 
ject—to allow water to be drawn in on the 
suction stroke and expelled on the dis¬ 
charge. 

Steam fire engines usually have two steam 
cylinders and two pump cylinders, so that 


suction and discharge are continuous. A 
suction chamber on the suction side of the 
pump, and an air chamber on the discharge 
side, contribute to the same end, and the 
air in the air chamber acts as a cushion on 
the column of water. 

Two feed pumps are attached to the en¬ 
gine so that a pressure higher than _ the 
steam pressure of the boiler may be attained 
and feed water forced in as necessary. 

The water for the boiler may be taken 
from the water passing through the pumps 
of the engine, or may be taken from the 
tank under the driver’s seat. 

The steam cylinders are always larger 
than the water cylinders, in order that a 
water pressure higher than the steam pres¬ 
sure may be attained. The ratio between 
the steam and the pump pistons determines 
the ratio between the pressure of the steam 
applied and the highest possible water pres¬ 
sure that may be attained. 

The boiler has one or more safety valves 
to release any pressure in excess of that for 
which the valve is set. The pumps have a 
“relief valve” worked by hand, and some¬ 
times automatic, which, when opened, per¬ 
mits the water to pass between the suction 
and the discharge side of the pump and 
allows the engine to run without forcing 
water out of the discharge gate. 

B. EQUIPMENT OF ENGINE. 

Gages.—Gages to denote steam pressure; 
water gage to denote water pressure; com¬ 
pound gage to denote either hydrant pres¬ 
sure or the amount of vacuum when engine 
is drafting. Class gage and cocks in water 
column to show water level in boiler. 

Hydrant Connections.—Chuck, to set on 
Lowry hydrants. It has two 4^-inch 
female and two 2 k 2 -inch male suction con¬ 
nections. 

Gooseneck used when connecting to. 
Boston hydrant. It has 2 k 2 -inch male and’ 
female connections. 

One double 4k2-inch female connection. 

Enlarger.—A 4 Yi by 2^-inch connection 
to connect 4k2-inch suction to 2 k 2 -inch out¬ 
let. 

Cambridge Connection.—Engines that are 
likely to respond to Cambridge carry a 
coupling having a 3-inch female connection 
to fit Cambridge hydrants, and a 2 k 2 -inch 
male connection to which the Boston suc¬ 
tion hose may be attached. 

Suction Hose.—Two 11-foot lengths of 
heavy 4k2-inch suction hose, and one length 
of flexible. 3-inch, cotton suction hose. 

Strainer.—One metal strainer to put on 
end of suction hose when drafting to pre¬ 
vent foreign matter being drawn into 
pumps. 


322 



Chafing Blocks.—Wooden blocks are at¬ 
tached to suctions to prevent chafing 
against ground when engine is working. 

Small Hose.—One piece of f^-inch rub¬ 
ber hose for thawing pipes, and another to 
use water about the engine. 

Fresh-water Connection.—For use when 
engine is drafting salt or dirty water that 
cannot be used in boilers. 

This is a brass coupling having a small 
cock in it. It is'put in between any 2 k 2 -inch 
couplings through which fresh water is 
flowing, or at the end of such hose and 
capped. A length of M-inch hose is at¬ 
tached to the cock and led to the tank un¬ 
der driver’s seat. (It might be necessary to 
run a special line of hose to supply engines 
with fresh water.) 

Morse Gates.—Used on small outlets of 
post hydrants that have no independent 
gates. A Morse gate is also used 50 feet 
back from cellar pipes. 

Engine Jacks.—Screws attached to frame 
so that the yibration may be taken from 
wheels when engine is working. 

Wheel Fenders.—Sheets of iron placed on 
inside of wheels when engine is working to 
prevent heat from blistering paint. 

Miscellaneous.—Whistle, fire irons, mall, 
crowbar, small tools and wrenches, stuffing 
box spanners, oil cans and reservoirs. 
Hook for lifting covers of flush hydrants. 

As much coal as the tender will con¬ 
veniently carry. 

2. EQUIPMENT OF HOSE WAGON. 

1. Morse Gun.—Stationary on wagon, 
having connections for six lines of hose, the 
nozzle of which may be turned in any di¬ 
rection. 

2. Hose.—About 1,200 feet. Body of 
wagon divided so that two lines can be laid 
at the same time. 

3. Deluge Set.—Twelve feet of 3k2-inch 
hose having connections for combining two 
or more lines of hose to make one large 
stream. 

4. Nozzles.—Different sized nozzles, 

ranging from 1 to 1|4 inches. 

5. Eastman Nozzle Holder.—Used for 
holding nozzles of hose. It has a brace rod, 
and hooks that may be used when working 
on a ladder. 

6. Siamese Connection.—Having two fe¬ 
male and one male connection so that two 
lines can be made into one, making one 
large stream. 

7. Burst-hose Jacket.—Made in two parts, 
connected by hinges, with rubber lining, to 
be placed over part of hose that is burst, 
and the two parts locked together. 

8. Templet.—Used fpr straightening fe¬ 
male couplings when jammed. 

9. Play Pipes.—Brass covered with leath¬ 
er, having a shutoff and nozzle 1 inch to 1J4 
inches in diameter. 

10. —Life net. Life line. 

11. Life Belt.—A strong belt with swivel 
hook attached, used when working on 
pompier ladders- or for rescue work. 

12. —Belts, spanners and hose lines. 


13. —Hose hoist. Bresnan nozzle. 

14. —Door-opener, axe, mall, plaster hook. 

15. —Extinguishers. 

16. —Horse sandals, lanterns, hydrant 
wrench, wheel wrench. 

17. Medicine Chest.—Containing surgical 
instruments, bandages, tourniquet, needles, 
carron oil and several kinds of medicine. 

3. CHEMICAL ENGINE. 

A chemical engine may be horse drawn 
or motor propelled. It carries one or more 
lead-lined copper tanks, the piping of which 
is so arranged that the tanks may be 
operated together or independently. This 
is accomplished by means of a double valve 
at the discharging point of each tank. 

There is an exhaust valve with piping on 
the side of each tank at the highest point to 
which the tank should be filled. This is 
used as an overflow and gas blowoff. 

A seal on the top of each tank is swung on 
a hinge with gasket or washer to make it 
airtight, and holds the vitriol pot cap, which 
is operated by a screw stem. This is the 
only point from which the interior of the 
tank may be seen. 

The vitriol pot rests in a metal cage which 
sets on a bar carried through the side of the 
tank. There is a handle on this bar by 
means of which the vitriol pot is tipped 
when charging the tank. 

A pressure gage is attached to each tank. 
The pressure on the tank when changed, be¬ 
fore the feed valve leading to hose is 
opened, shows a pressure of about 200 
pounds. 

The tanks are piped with independent 
valves through which the tanks may be 
filled with water, or by means of which the 
tanks may be made to act as reservoirs 
when water is being supplied from a hy¬ 
drant or engine and is passed through the 
chemical hose. This piping has a 2^4-inch 
hose connection. 

A 2-inch threaded cap is on the bottom of 
each tank and should be removed occa¬ 
sionally to wash out any matter that may 
form at the strainer of the discharge pipe. 

The chemical fluid is taken through a 
pipe which runs from the valve at the top 
of the tank to the bottom, the pressure of 
the gas on top of the fluid forcing it to this 
point so that all the fluid may be forced 
out. 

An agitator or fan is operated by a handle 
after the vitriol jar has been tipped, which 
mixes the contents of the tank and increases 
the pressure. 

Uses.—Chemical solution and its gas 
have more effect than water on some 
fires. Chemical engines are used when a 
small quantity of water is required and for 
extinguishing small fires on the outskirts of 
large fires. The amount of liquid is limited, 
and judgment must be used when larger 
hose is irt service. 

Chemical Fluids.—The ingredients com¬ 
posing the chemical fluid are used in the 
proportions of 2 pounds of soda and 1 pound 
of acid to every 5 gallons of water. 


323 



Hose.—The hose ; s 34-inch rubber, made 
specially to withstand the pressure and the 
effect of the acid and socla. 

The play pipes are long and pointed with 
a tip varying from ^4 to 34 inch in diameter. 

Charging Tanks for Service.—Remove the 
seal from vitriol jar and tip the jar. When 
possible use the agitator. Allow the pres¬ 
sure in tank to rise to get proper mixture 
and forcible stream. Never open feed valve 
until water is called for, otherwise the hose 
may burst. See that all valves are in 
proper position and watch for gas or water 
leaks. 

Refilling Tanks.—Relief valve should al¬ 
ways be opened to relieve gases before the 
cap at the top of tank is removed. Remove 
vitriol jar with special carrier furnished for 
the purpose. Notice whether the tank is 
free from all soda or foreign matter. If 
possible, use warm water when filling tanks. 
Add soda when tank is about half-full, and 
use agitator to assist in dissolving the soda. 
When water reaches relief valve and shows 
leakage, supply is sufficient. 

Insert vitriol jar in cage with carrier fur¬ 
nished for that purpose. 

After removing carrier handle from vitriol 
jar, see that seat of main cap is free from 
dirt or dust, thereby allowing perfectly air¬ 
tight sealing. Seal the cap. on the tank with 
the rubber mallet and apply the vitriol jar 
cap with the threaded stem. Care should be 
taken not to apply the vitriol seal too tight, 
as it is liable to spread the seat of the cap 
on the vitriol jar. See that all valves are 
closed, as this is important when water and 
pressure are needed at fires. 

Equipment of Chemical Engine.—Acid 
jars, hose jacket for stopping leaks, 34-inch 
rubber hose, play pipes, hose spanners for 
34 and 2^4-inch hose, soda bags, rubber 
mallet, hydrant reducer 2*4 inches to 34 
inch, small wrenches, hose lines, extinguish¬ 
ers, rake, axe, door-opener; life net, life 
line; horse sandals, lanterns, hydrant 
wrench, wheel wrench. 

Chemical Tanks.—The Champion-Bab- 
cock tank is that with which the latest ap¬ 
paratus is equipped. The tank is supported 
at each end on trunnions, and is charged by 
tipping the entire tank by means of a hand 
wheel. The stopper of the acid bottle then 
drops out and permits the acid to combine 
with the soda solution. The trunnions are 
hollow, and through one of them the handle 
of the agitator protrudes, and through the 
other the discharge pipe. This arrange¬ 
ment reduces the number of openings to a 
minimum. The tank may be washed out 
through its one large opening and all mat¬ 
ter removed by tipping the tank. 

4. EXTINGUISHERS. 

The carbonic acid gas, 3-gallon, upset, 
liquid extinguisher is that in general use in 
fire departments. It has an effective range 
of about 40 feet and discharges for about 
one minute. Pressure is generated by 
chemical action. At ordinary temperature 


125 pounds pressure is generated; 300 
pounds if the nozzle is shut off or stopped, 
and higher pressures if the water is very 
warm. The jet carries carbonic acid gas 
and sulphate of soda in solution, and to 
some extent deposits soda salts on the 
burning material, which tends to retard 
combustion. 

The nozzle must always be opened before 
the extinguisher is charged, otherwise an 
explosion may occur. 

Extinguishers will freeze if exposed, and 
after exposure must be thawed out as soon 
as possible. 

To Refill Extinguishers.—Formula: 3 

gallons water; 11-5 pounds soda; 3-5 of a 
pound acid. 

Open nozzle to relieve pressure, if any, 
and discharge all contents before removing 
head. Unscrew head and take out acid bot¬ 
tle and carrier. Wash out the interior thor¬ 
oughly, using warm water and stirring with 
stick to remove any deposit. Blow through 
nozzle to make sure that it is clear. 

Dissolve soda in a small amount of warm 
water in clean pail. When soda is dissolved 
add cold water to make required quantity. 
The soda should be entirely dissolved so 
that the water appears clear. Pour into ex¬ 
tinguisher through strainer and fill until the 
liquid can just be reached by the tips of the 
finders when thumb is outside. 

Wash out acid bottle and fill with vitriol 
to line marked on bottle. Set bottle in 
carrier, screw head on extinguisher tightly, 
and wash off outside of extinguisher to re¬ 
move chemicals. 

“Babcock:” Type in which bottle is 
broken to charge. 

“Babcock:” Equipped with “Perkins” top 
with inverted bottle, to charge which the 
stopper is removed. 

“National Standard:” Charged by releas¬ 
ing stopper and turning bottom up. 

“Badger:” Charged by releasing stopper 
and turning bottom up. 

“Underwriter:” Charged by turning bot¬ 
tom up. 

Pyrene Extinguisher.—A double-acting 
hand pump, capacity 1 quart, weight 5 
pounds, range about 30 feet. 

5. LADDER-TRUCK EQUIPMENT. 

A fair equipment for a city service ladder 
truck would consist of: 

One 65-foot extension ladder. 

One 55-foot extension ladder. 

One 45-foot extension ladder. 

One 40-foot extension ladder. 

One 16-foot extension ladder. 

One 35-foot straight ladder. 

Two 30-foot straight ladders. 

Two 25-foot straight ladders. 

Two 20-foot straight ladders. 

One 16-foot straight ladder. 

Two 20-foot roof ladders. 

Two pompier ladders. 

One life net. 

One life gun, cartridges, arrows, arrow 
lines. 


824 


Three life lines, two hauling lines. 

Fourteen ladder dogs. 

Three ladder or “butt” straps. 

Miscellaneous.—Axes and axe belts, belts 
with spanners and hose lines, “dog” ham¬ 
mers and belts, pompier ladder belts. 

Battering ram, door-openers, window 
breaker, sledge hammers, malls, crowbars, 
pinchbar, brickwall pick, grappling iron, tin- 
roof cutter. 

Rakes, pitchforks, cotton hooks, saws, 
shovels, spades. 

Cellar pipe, Bresnan nozzle, Morse gate. 

Wire cutters and rubber gloves. 

Medicine chest, stretcher. 

Water lights. 

Monkey and Stilson wrenches, hydrant 
wrench. 

New York Bar.—This bar is a lately 
adopted appliance and is not carried on all 
ladder trucks. It can be used for many pur¬ 
poses, such as ripping up planking, floor 
boards, roofing and as a substitute for mall 
or sledge. 

Spades.—Used instead of axes to remove 
shingles when stripping is necessary, as at 
roof fires. 

Emergency Kit.—Various tools used in 
case of elevator accidents. 

A 65-foot Ladder.—A 65-foot extension 
ladder is made in two sections: the lower 
section, called the “butt” (35 feet long, 2 
feet wide), and the extension, called the 
“tip” (35 feet long). 

The tip slides between the spars of the 
butt and is held in place by iron brackets, 
one on each side at the bottom, and two on 
each side at the top, the two upper ones on 
each side being about 5 feet apart. 

The spars are of pine. The rungs are 
hard wood, l l / 2 inches in diameter, and 
spaced 1 foot apart. 

There are two iron rungs at the top of 
the butt. To the upper iron rung a pulley 
and one end of the hoisting rope are 
fastened. The hoisting rope is led down 
between the butt and the tip, rove through 
a pulley on the bottom round of the tip, 
brought up again and rove through the 
pulley on the top round of the butt, led 
down on the other side of butt, under bot¬ 
tom round of butt, and fastened to bottom 
round of tip. 

To the second of the two iron rungs at 
the top of the butt are fastened the pawls 
which engage the rungs of the tip when it is 
raised and prevent the ladder from coming 
down until the pawls are taken off. 

Crotch Poles.—A 65-foot ladder has four 
crotch poles, two 28 feet long, and two 20 
feet long. These poles have pike points on 
one end, and a socket joint and toggle at 
the other. When raising the ladder the 
toggles are fitted into holes bored through 
the spars of the butt and are held in place 
by spring catches on the inside of the 
spar. 

“Butter.”—To raise this ladder a “butter 
is used. A “butter” consists of an oak bar 
having a crossbar fastened at one end. This 
crossbar fits into iron sockets on the bot¬ 
tom of the butt spars. Two feet from the 


crossbar a rope about 6 feet long is fast¬ 
ened by the center to the bar of the “but¬ 
ter.” To the free ends of this rope hooks 
are fastened which are to be hooked over 
the fourth round of the ladder. Depressing 
the “butter” furnishes powerful leverage to 
help raise the ladder. 

To raise 65-foot Ladder.—Take ladder 
from truck and carry it on shoulders. Lay 
it on ground in line with front of building 
(in ordinary street), bottom opposite point 
to be reached, tip underneath. “Butter” 
and crotch poles should be lying on top, 
with pikes of poles at the tip end. 

See that there are no obstructions over¬ 
head to interfere with raising the ladder. 

At the command, “On the poles,” eight 
men take the poles, one at each end of each 
pole. The men with the short poles step 
back two paces, and all the poles are taken 
toward the tip end as quickly as possible 
until the toggle irons can be pushed into 
their proper places. 

The toggle should be drawn back hard to 
make sure that the springs are caught. 

The “butter” is hooked into place. 

At the command, “Up,” the men who 
were at the toggle ends of the poles lift the 
ladder, and as the tip end rises run down 
toward the butt end, pushing up as they 
come. 

When the tip end is 8 or 10 feet from 
the ground, the men on the poles (stand¬ 
ing outside the poles and watching the tip 
end of ladder) push steadily upward on the 
poles, following in together, the men on the 
long poles about 8 feet apart and the men 
on the short poles about 10 feet apart. 

When ladder has been raised to the 
vertical and turned toward building, the tip 
is raised by two men hoisting on the rope, 
hand over hand. 

When the ladder is high enough, the tip 
is let down a few inches until the pawls 
catch. The men on the poles then ease the 
ladder in until it rests against the building. 
The poles are then carried around and the 
ends set close to the building to brace the 
ladder. 

The first man to go over any extension 
ladder shall make sure that the pawls are 
caught before he steps upon the tip of the 
ladder. 

To make up.—The men on poles (stand¬ 
ing outside, one hand on bottom of pole, the 
other extended, keeping pole close to body 
and watching top of ladder) draw ladder 
from building to vertical position. 

Hoist tip slightly to disengage pawls. 
Lower tip. Turn ladder to most favorable 
position for lowering. Hook on the 
“butter.” 

At the command, “Down,” men on “but¬ 
ter” throw their weight back on extreme 
end of “butter” and keep bearing back 
steadily until ladder is down. 

Men on poles, about 8 feet apart, walk¬ 
ing backward, watching top of ladder, take 
weight of ladder as it comes. 

The rest of the men walk backward from 
the butt end pushing up against the spars. 

When pole end is 8 or 10 feet from 


325 


ground, the men ease up on the poles. The 
other men, standing just clear of the spars, 
catch the ladder and ease it to the ground. 

The poles and “butter” are taken off and 
laid on top of the rungs, and the ladder re¬ 
placed on the truck, tip down, butt end first. 

Extension Ladders. 


From 

Ladders Poles “Butters” Building 

(Feet) 

65-foot. 4 1 8 

60-foot. 2 1 7 ^ 

55-foot. 2 None 7 

50-foot. 2 None 6 

45-foot. 2 None 5^2 

40-foot. 2 None 5 


The distance to set the foot of a ladder 
from a building is calculated On the basis 
of allowing the foot of ladder to stand 1 
foot from building for every 8 feet in length 
of ladder. 

If there is a cornice on the building, al¬ 
lowance should be made for its width by 
adding the width of the cornice to the base 
line required for that ladder.* 

Roof Ladders.—Roof ladders range from 
16 to 20 feet long. They have steel hooks at 
the upper end, and are used for various pur¬ 
poses, but chiefly to lay on slanting roofs, 
or to go from one balcony fire escape to 
another. 

On some roof ladders the hooks are held 
by springs, and when not in use are turned 
in out of the way. 

“Dog Chains.”—A “dog chain” consists 
of a piece of chain about 2 feet long, having 
at one end a spike bent at right angles, and 
at the other end a ring (snap hooks are at¬ 
tached to fasten “dog chain” to fire es¬ 
capes, etc.). 

To “Dog” a Ladder.—Place chain round 
spar of ladder, under a rung, and below roof 
or sill, bring “dog” back inside spar and 
pass it through the ring; draw tight round 
spar and carry “dog” across and away from 
ladder and drive “dog” securely into some 
firm place. 

If in a window, the ladder is pushed to 
the left and the “dog chain” put round 
right spar of ladder, and the “dog” is 
driven to the left side, drawing the ladder 
securely against the left side of window. 

If on a roof, a chain is used on each spar 
of the ladder and the “dog chains” are 
crossed to opposite sides to prevent the 
ladder slipping sideways. 

To take Hose over Ladders.—Start from 
the ground, carrying play pipe over right 
shoulder, with line of hose on ladder passing 
down in front between feet. 

When the window is reached, pass left 
leg through rungs of ladder to hold your¬ 


* The New York rule given in Chief 
Kenlon’s book (p. 406), “Divide the length 
of ladder in feet by 5 and add 2,” is hardly 
a safe one for the nutrussed ladders mostly 
used in this State. 


self, and with both hands free, pass pipe in 
through window and follow. 

Do not pass hose through rungs of lad¬ 
der, because if that is done the ladder can¬ 
not be taken away until the hose is brought 
back again and cleared. 

The men who follow the pipe man should 
keep about 10 feet apart, with the hose over 
their right shoulders and a bight of hose 
hanging down in front of them. 

When the line of hose has been carried 
high enough, the men pass their left legs 
through the rungs of ladder, lower the ex¬ 
tra hose down in front of them and put on 
their hose lines. 

To play from a Ladder.—With pipe over 
right shoulder and hose hanging down on 
ladder between the feet, mount until the 
desired point is reached. Put left leg 
through rungs to hold yourself. Now, hav¬ 
ing both hands free, bring pipe from 
shoulder and pass it through rungs or over 
top of ladder, and put hose line on about 1 
foot back from pipe. 

The men following the pipe man put their 
left legs through the rungs, let down the 
extra hose and put cn hose lines. 

To put on a Hose Line.—Pass hose line 
round hose and put hook through ring, then 
pass book round spar of ladder and hook it 
round line with the hook pointing up. 

A “Hose Line.”—A “hose line” is a piece 
of 124-inch rope about 4 feet long, spliced 
on a ring at one end and on a hook at the 
other. 

Pompier Ladder.—A pompier ladder con¬ 
sists of a single wooden spar banded with 
metal, 16 feet long, having a 2-foot 6-inch 
steel hook at the top. 

The rungs are wooden crossbars, 12 
inches long, set through the spar. 

Two curved metal plates on the hook 
side, one at the top and one at the bottom, 
keep the ladder 2 inches from the wall to 
allow the hand to grasp the spar, and when 
using this ladder the spar should always be 
grasped, and not the rungs. 

When using pompier ladders, the life 
belt is worn. This broad canvas belt is put 
on with the buckles on the left side, and 
the straps should be tightened by pulling 
them with the right hand. / 

When the hook of this belt is not in serv¬ 
ice, as, for instance, when using but one 
pompier ladder, the hook of the belt should 
be kept to one side in the loop provided for 
that purpose. 

Pompier Ladder Chain.—The first man 
hooks his ladder over the first window sill 
to the left, then, grasping the spar, mounts 
until he can grasp the pompier ladder hook 
with his left hand. With his right hand he 
then hooks his belt hook on the back curve 
of the pompier ladder hook. Then, stiffen¬ 
ing his legs, he should stand upon the third 
rung of the pompier ladder with his toes 
pressed against the building, maintaining 
his balance and having the use of both 
hands. 

The second man passes up another 
pompier ladder. The first man takes it from 
him, and keeping the hook flat against the 


326 









wall, pushes it up until he can put the hook 
over the window sill above. Grasping the 
hook of the ladder, he unhooks his belt and 
mounts to the window above, the man be¬ 
low taking his place, and so on until the 
top is reached. 

Single Pompier Ladder.—Straddle the 
window sill with right leg outside. With 
both hands on hook lift ladder and turn 
hook from you until it is clear of the win¬ 
dow. The right foot should be turned out 
from the wall and the spar of the ladder 
should bear against the inside of the foot. 
Raise ladder, keeping left hand highest, 
hook flat against the wall until high enough 
to hook over sill above. 

When starting from the first window at 
the drill school, the hook must be turned 
out from the wall to clear a projection, and 
the spar drawn over the outside of the foot 
which is to be held in close to the wall.* 

When ladder is securely hooked, grasp 
spar of ladder and stand on window sill. 
Still holding by spar, mount to the window 
above. When high enough, grasp hook of 
pompier ladder with both hands, and stand¬ 
ing with right foot on third rung, raise and 
slip the left foot over the window sill, land¬ 
ing in a sitting position, and still holding 
hook of pompier ladder. 

Continue as before till desired window is 
reached. 

To use a Life Line.—When using a life 
line to hoist or lower anything to or from 
a height, a “hose hoist” should be fastened 
over the edge of the sill or roof and the life 
line led over it to prevent the friction from 
damaging the line. 

To hoist or lower line of hose, if the hose 
is empty: With a clove hitch make the 
life line fast to the hose about 8 feet from 
the end of play pipe. 

If the hose is full of water: With a clove 
hitch make the life line fast to the hose 
about 8 feet from the end of play pipe, and 
take a half-hitch over the play pipe. 

To hoist or lower a ladder: Make life 
line fast with clove hitch to spar of ladder 
about one-third the distance from bottom, 
and take a half-hitch over top of spar. 

When a clove hitch has been made, the 
end of the rope should be half-hitched 
around the standing part. 

To use a Life Belt.—Make life line 
securely fast. Take two turns of life line 
round hook of life belt, taking care to have 
line lead from back of hook. 

To obtain the proper lead of life line on 
life belt hook, grasp life line with right 
hand, palm out, left hand holding hook 
open toward you, right hand highest. Take 
turns over hook from you. 

When coming down a life line with an¬ 
other person, three turns should be taken 
round the hook with the life line. 


* This refers to Boston; but similar con¬ 
ditions might be found elsewhere. 


6. WATER TOWER. 

A water tower is a portable standpipe 
uesd to send water from an elevation and 
horizontally into buildings. 

A water tower may be horse drawn or 
motor propelled. 

A water tower consists of a body to 
which the traction gear, wheels, brakes, 
etc., are attached, and upon which rests, 
with its attachments, the tower containing 
the extension pipe, hose, nozzle, etc. 

Height to which tower may be raised, 55 
or 65 feet. 

Power.—A tower may be raised by: 

(a) Pressure generated in a chemical 
tank, or by water pressure furnished by en¬ 
gines. 

(b) Water pressure. 

(c) Springs. 

Pressure.—A pressure of about 125 
pounds per square inch is required to raise 
a tower and about 45 pounds to lower it. 

The pressure is applied to pistons work¬ 
ing in cylinders. By suitable mechanism the 
power is brought to bear upon the teeth of 
a quadrant at the base of the tower, the mo¬ 
tion of the pistons one way raising the 
tower, and the contrary motion bringing it 
down. 

Four valves control the pressure. Upper 
right and lower left to raise. Upper left and 
lower right to lower. The hands must not 
be taken from the valves when operating, 
and the tower must be raised and lowered 
slowly and brought to a stop gently. 

In cold weather, after the tower is raised, 
water should be circulated through cylinders 
to prevent freezing. 

Spring-raised Tower.—One type of 
tower is raised by heavy springs com¬ 
pressed in cylinders, and when released act¬ 
ing through levers on the base of the 
tower. By means of an arrangement of 
gears at the base the tower is raised to the 
full vertical position when the springs 
finish lifting. By means of the same gears 
the tower is wound down and the springs 
are again compressed and ready for action. 

The springs are released by stepping 
upon a lever on the platform at the base of 
the tower. The lever is held in position by 
a pin, which must be taken out before the 
lever can be moved. 

Placing Tower.—Until a tower is called 
into action it must be kept at such distance 
from the fire that it may be turned to take 
any position desired. 

When orders are received to put the 
tower into action, unless orders to the con¬ 
trary are received, the tower should be 
placed so that when erect it will be equally 
distant from both ends of the building, and 
at such distance as to insure that the stream 
can be sent through any window within 
reach. 

To operate Tower.—Pin sweep to pre¬ 
vent forward end from turning. Chock 
forward wheels. Take off horses. Set 
jacks on front axles to prevent vibration. 
Set braces to steady tower. If bracebars 
have chains, fasten them around rim of 


327 





front wheel. Clear hose out. Cast off guy 
lines and see that they are clear. See that 
water gate is closed. (On spring-raised 
towers, release latch on rear end of plat¬ 
form that prevents tower from rising.) 

To raise Tower.—Watch the stop on 
quadrant. When vertical, set dog in 
quadrant rack. On spring-raised towers, a 
screw-dog is set in about middle of plat¬ 
form. These dogs prevent the tower from 
coming down again. Release pawl on drum 
on which wire is wound that controls pipe. 
Raise tip by cranks 2 nd have pawl in place 
on ratchet. Keep hose clear while raising. 
Set pawl on drum that controls nozzle. 

Fasten guy lines in direction in which 
tower is to play to prevent back pressure 
from tipping it backward. If tower does 
tip, reduce pressure by closing gate in 
waterway. Open water gate. Control 
vertical direction of nozzle by wire rope on 
drum, and horizontal direction by hand 
wheel at base. 

Location of tower can be changed with¬ 
out lowering it, but axle jacks must be set. 

To make up Tower.—Close water gate. 
Open valve to drain hose in tower. Re¬ 
lease pawl on ratchet and wind tip down. 
Wind up slack of nozzle-control wire. See 
that hose does not foul. Release dog. Cast 
off guy lines. 

Lower tower by pressure, or, if spring- 
raised, by winding on cranks and com¬ 
pressing springs. On spring-raised towers, 
set latch to prevent tower rising. Discon¬ 
nect hose from engines. Open all valves to 
drain. Make up hose; return bracebars; 
take jacks off axles; coil up guy lines; take 
pin out of sweep and chocks from under 
forward wheels; hitch horses. 

Equipment of Tower.—Two 60-foot 
lengths of 3^-inch hose; one in service; 
one in reserve. 

One 4-way Siamese connection. 

One hose cap and line used to change 
hose in tower. 

Two Morse gates for use on outlets in 
case they leak. 

One set of Porter wire cutters and pair 
of rubber gloves for use when cutting 
wires. 

Two lanterns—one white, one red—to 
hang from nozzle. 

Spanners for 3^-inch hose. Belts and 
spanners for 2j4-inch hose. Small tools, 
wrenches, hammer, etc. 

Axe for emergencies. 

Rubber mallet if tower has chemical 
tank. 

Different sized nozzles. Two-inch is 
that most commonly used. Some towers 
have deck guns which may be used while 
tower is playing. A valve on the pipe from 
the main supply admits or shuts off their 
supply. 

There are three inlets for water on each 
side of a tower, and on some towers three 
inlets on the near end. These inlets have 
female connections for 2^-inch hose, and 
clapper valves are placed on these and all 
similar connections (such as monitor turret 
nozzle connections and Siamese connections 


for deluge sets) to prevent water from 
being forced back through hose on which 
there is less pressure than other lines are 
supplying, or being forced out through a 
connection to which no hose has been at¬ 
tached. 

7. AERIAL LADDER. 

An aerial ladder is a portable, machine- 
raised, extension ladder. It rests upon a 
body containing the mechanism by which 
the ladder is raised, and to which the trac¬ 
tion gear, wheels, brakes, etc., are attached. 

Aerial ladders usually extend to 75 or 85 
feet. 

An aerial ladder may be horse drawn or 
motor propelled. 

Power.—The power to raise the lower 
section of an aerial ladder may be: 

(a) Manual, applied by cranks and gears. 

(b) Partly by springs and finished by 
manual power. 

(c) Springs. 

(d) Pneumatic or water pressure. 

The extension.—The upper part or exten¬ 
sion of an aerial ladder slides between the 
main rails of the lower section and is raised 
by manual power applied to. cranks that re¬ 
volve a drum upon which is wound a wire 
cable rove through a block at the top of 
the main ladder and fastened to the foot 
of the extension. The cranks, gearing and 
drum are fastened to the lower section of 
the ladder. 

On some ladders the extension is raised 
by air-driven motors. 

Steering Gear.—On account of their 
great length, aerial ladders require a special 
steering device to enable them to turn 
corners. This is accomplished by turning 
the rear wheels in the required direction by 
a man manipulating a tiller wheel that sets 
above the ladders and is connected by a 
vertical shaft, rods and knuckle joints to 
the rear wheels. 

Equipment of Aerial Truck.—In addition 
to the machine-raised ladder, a fair equip¬ 
ment for an aerial truck would be: 

One 55-foot extension ladder. 

One 40-foot extension ladder. 

One 16-foot extension ladder. 

Two 30-foot straight ladders. 

One 20-foot roof ladder. 

Two 16-foot pompier ladders. 

Belts.—Pompier ladder belts, axe, belts, 
belts with spanners and hose lines, dog- 
hammer belts. 

One gun, cartridges, arrows, arrow lines. 

Life net, life lines. Guy lines (2 T /£-inch 
rope attached to upper part of extension by 
12 feet of chain fastened to eye-bolts). 

Battering ram, door-opener, sledge ham¬ 
mer, mall, New York floor bar, jimmy, 
pinch bars, wall picks, axes, plaster hooks, 
tin-roof cutter. 

Shutter-opener and belt, saws and small 
carpenter tools. 

Grappling iron and rope, hose hoist, dog 
chains. 


328 


Eastman holder, cellar pipe, Bresnan 
nozzle. 

Extinguishers. 

Wire cutters and rubber gloves, bale 
hooks, pitchforks, shovels. 

Water lights, holders and reflectors, 
lanterns. 

Sandals, small wrenches, hydrant wrench, 
wheel wrench. 

Medicine chest. 

Construction. —The frame is channel steel 
strengthened by turn-buckle trusses. The 
sides of the ladder are Oregon pine, and 
steel stay bolts are passed from side to 
side at every fourth round. The rungs are 
second-growth natural-cured ash. 

To raise any Aerial Ladder.— Stop ladder 
at desired point witn bottom of ladder in 
line with point to be reached, and with in¬ 
side forward wheel 11 feet from building. 
(Circumstances, such as a wide coping, may 
necessitate a greater distance.) Block for¬ 
ward wheels. Detach horses. Set jacks on 
forward axles to take strain off body 
springs. Take off tiller wheel. (On some 
types the spindle of the tiller wheel must 
be taken from its socket.) Swing tiller- 
man’s seat out of the way. (Releasing a 
catch will cause seat to swing clear, and it 
will be automatically locked and kept out 
of the way.) Cast off and man guy lines. 

Raise Main Ladder. —By applying springs 
or pressure. When ladder is perpendicular 
lock the raising mechanism. Unlock turn¬ 
table. Rotate turntable till ladder faces 
building. Lock turntable. 

Raise Extension by Cranks.— A pawl 
working in teeth on side of drum must be 
dropped into position when extension has 
been raised to prevent ladder coming down 
when crank handles are let go. Unlock 
raising mechanism of main ladder, and 
lower ladder until nearest point to building 
is about 1 foot away. (The weight of the 
men will bring it to rest against the build¬ 
ing.) Lock raising mechanism of main 
ladder. Make guy lines fast to most con¬ 
venient objects. 

The first man to go over any extension 
ladder must make sure that the pawls are 
caught before he steps upon the extension. 

To lower. —Cast off guy lines. Unlock 
main ladder-raising mechanism and raise 
ladder to vertical position. Lock ladder in 
this position. Take pawl off teeth on drum 
and wind extension down. Unlock turn¬ 
table and turn ladder to lowering position 
central with truck. Lock turntable. 

Lower Main Ladder.— By compressing 
the springs by winding on the cranks, or by 
operating the valves of a pressure-raised 
ladder. Lock springs on spring-raised lad¬ 
der when ladder is down. Coil up guy lines. 
Take jacks off forward axles. Attach 
horses and take blocks from under wheels. 

“American-La France” Spring-raised 
Aerial Ladder.— In the ladder raised wholly 
by the power of springs, coil springs are 
compressed in steel tubes permanently 
mounted upon the turntable. The springs 
are compressed and the ladder lowered by 
cranks and gears working on a toothed 


quadrant. When the ladder is down the 
springs are locked. 

The springs are released by stepping upon 
a lever. The power of the springs is then 
f 0t ir t to bear through rods upon the foot 
of the ladder and is sufficient to bring the 
ladder to a vertical position. 

When not in use the foot lever is held 
in position by a pin, and this pin must be 
taken out before the lever can be moved. 

Control. —The ladder is gradually brought 
to rest in a vertical position by air pres¬ 
sure generated by a piston working in an 
automatic air-controlling cylinder which is 
mounted on the forward end of turntable. 

This device is entirely automatic and re¬ 
quires no attention. The compressed air 
escapes through a regulated opening and is 
arranged to produce a cushioning effect and 
bring the ladder to rest without shock. 

Furthermore, the weight of the ladder so 
nearly balances the power of the springs at 
all points of elevation that a very slight 
pressure on the crank wheels is sufficient to 
cheek and hold the ladder in any desired 
position. 

The balance between the weight of the 
ladder and the power of the springs effect¬ 
ually prevents the ladder from falling. 

Turntable.— The turntable, upon which 
rests the platform and the ladder with its 
attachments, may be revolved in a complete 
circle by means of gears operated by a large 
hand wheel mounted on the platform. 

A positive friction lock, when applied, 
holds the turntable in any desired position. 

An automatic lock engages in a centering 
hole in the stationary member of the turn¬ 
table and holds the ladder in the proper 
position for lowering between the arches. 
This lock must be removed before the turn¬ 
table can be rotated. 

The ladder and its extension are raised 
and the turntable rotated without leaving 
the platform. 

“Seagrave” Aerial Ladder. —This ladder 
is raised by springs (compressed in cylin¬ 
ders by cranks and gears) rotating a large 
screw; this screw acts as a governor and 
steadies the motion when the ladder is 
rising. 

The springs are released by a hand lever. 
When the springs are compressed this lever 
is held in position by a pin. 

A disk friction-device operated by a small 
brake checks or stops the ladder in any de¬ 
sired position, and a catch (when put on) 
holds it there. This catch must be taken off 
before the ladder can again be moved. 

Ladder 15, Boston. —This ladder is raised 
partly by the power of springs and partly by 
cranks and combination gears. 

To lower this ladder the pawl must be 
taken off the main ladder-raising mechan¬ 
ism, and the controller valve opened. 

Pneumatic Pressure. —Some types of 
aerial ladders are raised by means of the 
pressure of compressed air, or, in cases of 
necessity, by water pressure supplied by an 
engine, for which purpose there are suitable 
connections. 


329 


The “Dahill Hoist.”—The compressed air 
is generated by an air compressor in the 
quarters of horse-drawn aerial ladders, and 
carried on the truck when motor-driven. 

The compressed air is stored in a tank 
which is connected to a small tank contain¬ 
ing non-freezing oil. 

The tank containing the oil is connected 
to two cylinders pivotally supported on the 
turntable. In these cylinders work pistons 
directly connected to the base of the lad¬ 
der, the outward motion of the pistons ele¬ 
vating the ladder, and the contrary motion 
lowering it. The ladder is pivotally mount¬ 
ed near the end upon V-shaped side braces. 

A pressure of 180 pounds is kept on the 
small tank when raising the ladder, and none 
when lowering it. The ladder may be rig¬ 
idly held in any desired position by closing 
the valve. 

An arrangement of spring-stops at the 
foot of the ladder prevents it from going 
over beyond the vertical, and furnishes 
pressure to start it down from the vertical 
when ready to lower. 

Ladder 13, Boston, worked by Air Pres¬ 
sure.—To raise: Open valve to admit pres¬ 
sure from air-storage tank to liquid tank. 
When pressure is sufficient close valve, but 
maintain 180 pounds pressure on liquid tank 
while raising ladder. 

Open lower operating valve to connect 
liquid tank to cylinders; the ladder will then 
rise. When ladder is high enough close all 
valves. 

On the original “Dahill hoist” an auto¬ 
matic shut-off valve will cause ladder to stop 
just before it reaches a vertical position. 
Then close lower operating valve and slowly 
open by-pass valve to bring ladder to a ver¬ 
tical position. Close all valves. 

To lower: Open exhaust valve until gauge 
shows no pressure. Then control drop of 
ladder by using exhaust valve. (The manu¬ 
facturer recommends having 10 pounds' 
pressure when lowering.) 

The air is compressed in air tank at 350 
pounds’ pressure, and is sufficient to raise 
and lower the ladder six times without re¬ 
charging. 

8. EQUIPMENT OF A FIRE STATION* 

Tapper.—On which alarms and all-out sig¬ 
nals are received. Not to be touched by 
company members. 

Box Gong.—Gives alarms after tapper 
ceases. Alarms may be received on it when 
tapper fails. 

House patrol should wind this gong when 
he takes the floor, and switch it out on 
alarms to which his company does not re¬ 
spond, cutting in the switch again when the 
alarm finishes striking. 

Automatic Gong.—Gong on which signals 
are received from the Automatic Fire Alarm 


*The equipment of fire stations varies in 
minor particulars, depending on kind of ap¬ 
paratus. 


Company. This gong is wound only by 
their agent. 

House Gong.—To be sounded only on 
alarms of fire. Has attachment for switch¬ 
ing on lights on alarms at night. Patrol 
shall set this switch ready to operate before 
dark. 

Call Bell.—Used to call company or any 
member to main floor. 

Horse Release.—Lever by which the doors 
of horse stalls are released. 

Patrol Desk.^-At which company jour¬ 
nal is kept, and where all members must 
report before leaving quarters and on re¬ 
turn to quarters. 

Electric Light Switch.—To throw out all 
lights when apparatus is leaving quarters. 
To be turned by the second in command. 

Telephone.—To be used only as author¬ 
ized. 

Cards.—Assignment cards: Two or more 
cases in each house. Cards show location, 
assignment and covering for each alarm, 
and patrol must consult them on every alarm 
to which his company does not respond. 

First alarm card: Shows boxes to which 
company responds on first alarms. 

Automatic and A. D. T. alarm cards: 
Show boxes and their location to which 
company responds. 

Telephone card: Showing telephone num¬ 
bers of stations on that circuit. 

Headquarters’ ring. 

Chief of Department’s ring. 

Deputy Chief’s ring. 

District Chief’s ring. 

Roster: Showing name, rank and house 
call of each member. 

Circuit card: Showing boxes that are on 
same circuit. 

Last Alarm Slate.—To show last alarm, 
and streets closed, or streets on which wa¬ 
ter is shut off. 

Company Books.—Journal: Entries in 
which are made by patrol. 

American District Telegraph Box-Loca¬ 
tion Book: Referred to for location of box 
after the box number has been transmitted 
by telephone from the Fire Alarm Office. 

Automatic Fire-Alarm Box-Location 
Book: Referred to for location of box when 
alarm is received on gong. 

Books kept by Company Commanders.— 
Hose, washing, shoeing, fire record, letter 
file for general and special orders, requisi¬ 
tion, record of property. 

Books for General Use.—General Order 
Book, Crosby-Fiske Handbook of Fire Pro¬ 
tection, Report of National Board of Fire 
Underwriters. 

Heating Apparatus (House Heater, Hot- 
water Heater, Engine Heater).—Heaters are 
attended by engineers, or by some one man 
assigned to the duty; and at night by the 
patrol at the end of his tour of duty, or at 
such times as the company commander as¬ 
signs. In engine houses the patrol shall at 
once notify the engineer of any change in 
the pressure usually maintained on the 
steam gauge, or when it falls below 10 
pounds, or of any change of the water level 
from the third gauge. 


330 



Engine heaters are connected to engines 
with pipes having valves which automatic¬ 
ally trip and close when the apparatus leaves 
quarters. After the engine is disconnected 
the fire is automatically regulated by a dia¬ 
phragm which opens the door and closes the 
damper, and by a safety valve that admits 
water to the fire if the pressure rises too 
high. 

Ashes are to be put out ready for delivery 
9 n the regular days, and are to be taken 
from the ash pits every day, and kept in the 
metal cans. The metal cans are not to be 
thrown about or carelessly damaged. 

Both valves on radiators are to be either 
opened or closed at the same time to pre¬ 
vent siphoning water from the house heater. 
The air valve on a radiator should not be 
left open without some one in attendance. 

A sufficient amount of split wood and ex¬ 
celsior must be kept in the station, and a 
basket containing wood and excelsior must 
always be ready for instant use for engine 
fires. 

Cannel, furnace and stove coal for use as 
required. 

Recording Pressure Gauges. —Recording 
pressure gauges are run by clockwork, and 
record on a paper dial all fluctuations of the 
water pressure on the city service mains. 
The patrol must examine this gauge every 
hour. The Water Department is to be at 
once notified of any sudden drop in pressure. 

The gauge is to be attended by one man 
only, who is held responsible for changing 
the dials at 10 A. M. daily, for winding the 
clock, and for keeping the pen filled with 
ink. 

Meters. —Water, gas and electric meters 
are to be read by company commander when 
Inspector checks dial, and the quantity used 
noted in journal and forwarded to Head¬ 
quarters. 

Horses. —Horses, harnesses and stables to 
be kept clean. Bits to be changed every 
day. 

Bedding to be aired every day, and when 
dirty to be removed. Manure and refuse to 
be kept in metal cans with metal tops, in 
place, and assistance to be given when wag¬ 
on comes to take it away. 

Feed. —Feed to average not more than 2 
quarts of oats, three times a day, and 14 
pounds of hay per horse per night. Straw 
to average 3 pounds per horse per day. Hay 
to be opened, shaken and aired twenty-four 
hours before feeding. 

Stables to be darkened in summer. 

Harnesses. —To be properly adjusted to 
each horse. 

Harnesses to be hung over poles ready to 
drop, so that when at proper height the 
large weight in box will just clear floor. 
Small weight above to be so set that the 
harness ropes and spreaders will be carried 
to the ceiling when tripped. 

Halters are provided to secure horses 
when they are being cleaned. 

“Sweat scrapers,” to remove sweat from 
horses after runs. 


Beds.—White for officers; aluminum for 
privates. To be kept well aired and clean, 
and to be made up every morning with blan¬ 
ket rolled at foot. 

Sheets and pillow slips to be changed ev¬ 
ery week, and other bed clothing sent to 
laundry when necessary. 

Men must undress before using beds. 

Dormitory to be kept well aired. 

Man assigned to that duty will have laun¬ 
dry ready for delivery and see that the 
amount received and delivered is entered on 
journal and reported to company comman¬ 
der. 

Universal Coupling.—For use by out-of 
town apparatus covering Boston stations 
when the threads on their hose couplings 
are different from those on the Boston hose. 

Extinguishers.—Soda and vitriol for re¬ 
filling extinguishers. Clean pail to be kept 
for that sole purpose. 

Coffee-pot Chuck.—For use on Lowry hy¬ 
drants when lines of hose are left at a fire. 

Clock.—Patrol to note clock at noon-blow 
and report. 

Mats.—To be kept at foot of sliding pole. 

Library Books.—Books to be collected 
ready for delivery by one man assigned; 
number received and delivered noted. 

Electric Lights.—To be used only when 
necessary. Lights in cellar, hayloft, stable 
or closets to be extinguished by last man 
to use them. 

Test Switches.—Wherever possible fire- 
alarm circuits are looped into Department 
houses, and on such circuits two swii.ches 
are placed, one to open the circuit and the 
other to connect the circuit with the earth. 
These switches are used to locate defects 
on the circuits quickly. When the trouble is 
located, men from the fire-alarm branch are 
sent out to correct it. 

Ice-water Tank.—To be washed out every 
day when in use, and to be cleaned out and 
put away at end of season. 

Hose.—To be dried on rack or in tower, 
and when dry to be swept clean and rolled 
up. 

Door Chains.—To be in place when doors 
are open. 

Engine-heater Rubber Connections.—For 

use by engines when the engine-heater con¬ 
nections do not fit. 

Motor Apparatus.—In houses equipped 
with motor apparatus great care must be 
taken to guard against gasoline leakage. In 
such houses it shall be the duty of the patrol 
to frequently inspect the apparatus and note 
any leakage. 

No gasoline shall be exposed in or about 
quarters. Matches shall not be used on the 
apparatus floor. The door to cellar shall be 
kept closed except when persons are pass 
ing. 

Miscellaneous.—Small tools, vise, axe, 
crowbar, house-cleaning supplies, oils, axle 
grease, cuspidors and rubber mats, appa¬ 
ratus jack, curry combs, mane brushes, pick¬ 
axe and shovels, bags and salt, spare har¬ 
ness, furniture, hand hose, stepladder. 


331 


9. MISCELLANEOUS. 

Cellar Pipes; Baker, Hart. —The Baker 
cellar pipe consists of two pipes brazed to¬ 
gether at right angles, forming one pipe. 
The rod that controls the nozzle is on the 
outside in front of the vertical pipe. The 
nozzle can be made to turn about two- 
thirds of a circle. There is a long lever from 
rod which controls the nozzle, and this en¬ 
ables the operator to stand back away from 
the hole through which the pipe is passed. 
A gate must be placed 50 feet back from this 
pipe to control the water without sending 
back to the engine. 

The Hart cellar pipe consists of two pipes 
hinged together so that they can be folded. 
The rod that controls the nozzle passes 
down inside the vertical pipe, and is car¬ 
ried straight up above the vertical pipe and 
has a short “T” handle. The nozzle can 
be made to turn in a complete circle. The 
operator must stand directly over the hole 
through which this pipe is passed, but there 
is a spray on the vertical pipe just below the 
joint of the horizontal and vertical pipes, 
and this prevents, to some extent, the smoke 
from coming up through the hole. 

The Hart pipe has a gate on it. The Morse 
gate is used 50 feet back from cellar pipe. 

Bresnan Nozzle. —This nozzle is a brass 
globe, having nine small holes, and is re¬ 
volved by the water pressure. It distributes 
the water in all directions. A gate to con¬ 
trol it must be placed between the couplings 
50 feet away. 

Hose Hoist. —The “hose hoist” consists of 
a metal frame so curved that it will fit over 
a window sill or the edge of a roof. It con¬ 
tains two rollers over which hose or a rope 
may be drawn with little friction. A rope is 
attached to secure it when hauling anything 
over it to the upper part of a building. This 
rope should be, if possible, passed several 
times round a chimney or other substantial 
projection, near the bottom, and then se¬ 
curely fastened. A dog chain is fastened to 
some hose hoists to secure them. 

A hose hoist is used when hoisting hose 
or ladders to the roof or upper floors of a 
building. It is to be hooked over the edge 
of the sill or roof so that the hooks will 
be outside and down. The curved part will 
then be on the edge of the sill or roof, and 
the straight part and tail-rope inside. 

The “Detroit” Door Opener. —The “De¬ 
troit” door opener consists of a steel crow¬ 
bar, to the back of which, near the prying 
end, a hollow bar is hinged. Inside the hol¬ 
low bar a sliding bar is arranged so that, 
by adjusting a small pin in holes spaced at 
regular intervals, the bar may be lengthened 
or shortened. 

Upon the end of the extension bar an 
oblong steel plate is hinged. This plate has 
a prong at each of the four corners, and 
must be set against the door near the lock 
so that the two long prongs point upward, 
thus obtaining the best possible grip for 
the opener. 

The handle of the crowbar affords pow¬ 
erful leverage, and whenever possible a door 


opener should be used in preference to an 
axe to force open a door, because it does less 
damage. If the crowbar slips, a flat piece 
of wood put under the point will sometimes 
make it hold. 

“Callahan Jimmy.”—This door opener 

consists of a steel crowbar and a handle 
3 feet long. The handle is weighted and 
slides on the bar, driving the flat curved 
edge of the bar between the door and the 
frame (at the lock). The door may then be 
pried open. 

“Water Lights.”—A “water light” consists 
of carbide of calcium and phosphide of cal¬ 
cium in separate compartments of a metal 
cylinder. The action of the water on the 
carbide of calcium forms a gas; and the ac¬ 
tion of the water on the phosphide of cal¬ 
cium produces the igniting power for the 
gas. This cylinder is not rechargeable, so 
each light can be used but once. 

The Holder.—The holder is a metal cyl¬ 
inder about 1^4 inches shorter than the light 
cylinder, closed at the bottom. A lip pro¬ 
jects inside at the top for about 54 inch, 
leaving an interior diameter just large 
enough to allow the light cylinder to pass, 
thus leaving a space for water between the 
light cylinder and the sides of the holder. 

Three springs on the inside walls of the 
holder press against and hold the light cyl¬ 
inder in place, and a metal hook fastened to 
the lip at the top of the holder hooks into 
a ring near the upper head of the light cyl¬ 
inder for the same purpose. 

Three small springs at the bottom of the 
holder keep the bottom of the light cylinder 
off the bottom of the holder. 

An inclosed slot passes through the lip 
to hold the support of a reflector. A handle 
is fastened to the outside. 

To use: Half fill holder with water. With 
one steady pull, pull off the white seal at the 
top and then at the bottom of the light cyl¬ 
inder. Make sure that there is a hole clear 
through the metal. Place light cylinder in 
holder and fasten hook on rim of holder to 
ring on side of light cylinder. Pour water 
into hole in top of light cylinder. Always 
keep holder full of cool water. Add fresh 
water every fifteen minutes. 

The “Prest-O-Lite” Searchlight.— The 
“Prest-O-Lite” searchlight used at fires con¬ 
sists of a light adjustable iron tripod sup¬ 
porting a large acetylene flare-lamp having 
a polished aluminum reflector 15 inches in 
diameter, and mounted on the standard in 
such manner that the light may be pointed 
in any direction. In cases where space does 
not permit setting up the tripod, the lamp 
may be taken off the stand. 

Pure, dry acetylene is conveniently stored 
and controlled in a seamless steel cylinder 
and may be turned on and off like a gas 
jet. Heavy walled rubber hose connects the 
lamp to an automatic reducing valve at¬ 
tached to the “Prest-O-Lite” cylinder, and 
the supply of light is instantly controlled by 
turning the valve on the cylinder. This au¬ 
tomatic reducing valve prevents the pres¬ 
sure in the pipe line from exceeding the 
proper amount—about 2 pounds. The flame 


332 


may be turned down, but can never become 
too nigh. 

A pressure gauge is usually attached to 
enable the operator to see at a glance just 
how much gas remains in the cylinder. 

A Universal Coupling.—A universal coup¬ 
ling is for use by companies coming into 
Boston that have different threads on their 
hose from those on the Boston Department 
hose. 

This coupling consists of a brass female 
connection having 2^4-inch Boston Depart¬ 
ment thread. ' The outside of this connection 
is threaded, and upon it works a coupling 
having projecting hooks. 

To use this connection, unscrew the sec¬ 
tion fitted with the hooks until the hooks 
can be made to engage the horns on a fe¬ 
male hose coupling. Then screw back the 
section until a tight joint is formed by the 
end of the universal coupling against the 
washer of the hose coupling. The female 
end of the universal coupling may then be 
used to connect to any 2^4-inch hydrant or 
engine outlet, or to any male hose coupling 
having the regular Boston thread. 

The “Dixon” Arrow Gun. —The “Dixon” 
arrow gun is a short, breach-loading musket 
that fires a blank cartridge to drive a double 
wire arrow, on which a ring slides, to which 
is attached a heavy cod line. 

The arrow is placed in the barrel of the 
gun with the ring and line outside the muz¬ 
zle. Ten feet of loose line is left leading 
from the inside of the coil, which is laid on 
the ground. 

The gun is fired from the shoulder, and 
should be aimed a little above the point to 
be reached by the arrow. 

The gun is used to shoot the arrow with 
the line attached to a person who cannot be 
reached in any other way. When the light 
line has been secured by the person above, 
a heavier rope is attached and may then be 
hauled up and used to effect an escape. 

Closing Hydrants. —After using post hy¬ 
drants having independent gates, the main 
valve should be tightly closed, but at least 
one of the independent gates should be left 
open a few moments as a vent, to permit the 
air to force out the dead water from the bar¬ 
rels through the waste valve. 

The caps should be left off while hydrant 
is draining. 

The independent gates should not be 
closed too tightly; a space of about % of an 
inch should be left in cold weather so that 
ice will not form a seal and prevent easy 
opening. 

Post Hydrants. —The first engine to con¬ 
nect to a post hydrant that has no inde¬ 
pendent gates should connect to the large 
outlet, and before opening the hydrant 
should put a Morse gate on each of the 2j4- 
inch outlets. This will allow other engines 
to connect to the hydrant without shutting 
it down. 

The Life Net. —A life net is a circular rope 
net about 9 feet in diameter. The border is 
4-inch rope. The mesh rope is 1 inch. In 
the center there is a closely woven patch 
about 1 foot square. 


One form of life net is of canvas secured 
by springs to a metal rim. 

To hold a Life Net.—A life net should be 
held as high as the chin by grasping the 
rope border with the palms up. The left 
foot should be forward, the body braced 
back to receive.the shock, the eyes directed 
at the person jumping, and with everyone 
ready to move the net so as to bring it un¬ 
der the falling body. 

General Equipment of Apparatus.— All 

horse-drawn apparatus is equipped with 
poles, chains, whiffletrees, harnesses, blan¬ 
kets, whip, etc., and all apparatus is equipped 
with one or more lanterns. 

Formation and Alignment. —At the com¬ 
mand, “Fall in,” the members line up, the 
lieutenant, if any, at the right, and privates 
according to height, tallest man on the right 
next to the lieutenant. If there is more than 
one lieutenant, the senior falls in on the 
right, the junior on the left of the line. The 
left hand should be on the left hip, fingers 
and thumbs together, pointing down, the el¬ 
bow touching the man on the left (men to 
give way to the left as necessary), eyes 
directed to the right except the eyes of the 
man on the extreme right, who looks 
straight to the front. 

At the command, ‘ Front,” the hands are 
dropped to the side, and head and eyes are 
turned to the front. 

To march. —When about to march, the 
first step is taken by the left foot, unless 
the command “Right step” is given. 

To salute. —The salute is made with the 
hand farthest from the person saluted. When 
saluting, the eyes should be directed toward 
the person saluted. The thumb and fingers 
should be together and in line, and the hand 
brought to the vizor of the cap above the 
right eye, forefinger touching, palm to the 
left, with the forearm inclined to about 45°. 
The salute is supposed to be made at about 
six paces from the person saluted. 

10. INSTRUCTIONS TO OPERATORS 
OF AUTOMOBILE FIRE APPA¬ 
RATUS. 

Operation of Engine. 

1. In starting the apparatus apply clutch 
gradually and with engine at a reasonable 
speed. Have speed enough (of engine) to 
prevent stalling, but not so high as to “jerk” 
the car. 

2. Owing to the decreasing quality of gas¬ 
oline it will often be found difficult to start 
the engine, and especially after the same has 
lain idle for some time. To overcome this 
difficulty the following may be observed :— 

(a) “Priming” the carburettor. 

(b) “Choking” of the air valve of the car¬ 
burettor by the hand while the operator or 
assistant is cranking. 

(c) Running of the engine when in the 
house, say once every six hours, for a period 
of one minute, and keeping the hood and 
radiator covered with a blanket between 
such times. 


333 


(d) Careful use of the accelerator upon 
starting out to prevent possibility of engine 
“laying down,” due to sudden application of 
throttle. Allow engine to operate on low 
gear long enough to become sufficiently 
warm to operate on intermediate gear, and 
the same on this till capable of handling 
the high gear. 

3. Always start on the lowest gear. 

4. Never “race” the engine; that is, never 
operate with full throttle and no load. 

5. On ascending a hill go as far as is rea¬ 
sonable on high gear, then shift to interme¬ 
diate and, if necessity demands, to low gear. 
Never cause the engine to labor at low revo¬ 
lutions per minute. Also make the gear 
shifts when there is ample time in which to 
do them. Never approach a hill at full speed 
unless the road is absolutely clear of ob¬ 
structions, cross streets or cross walks. 

6. On going over cross walks, car tracks 
or severe “jounces” let up on accelerator 
and clutch (simultaneously) and allow car 
to coast until obstruction is passed. This 
applies, of course, only when the car has 
attained headway. 

Traffic Rules. 

7. In passing other cars or vehicles ob¬ 
serve rules of highway both as to path and 
rate of speed. 

8. On turning curves observe rules of 
highway as to path of car and slow down 
to 10 miles per hour. This applies to “blind” 
right angle turns. 

9. On approaching a cross street slow 
down to such speed as will enable you to 
stop the apparatus quickly enough to pre¬ 
vent a collision with an imaginary train, 
electric car or automobile being driven at 
high speed through this cross street. 

Brakes. 

10. On descending a hill shut off accel¬ 
erator and use the engine as a brake (leav¬ 
ing clutch in). If this is not sufficient to 
hold to a reasonable speed, use foot brake 
in addition. If this is insufficient, cut off 
ignition and aply emergency brake until 
speed is reduced to point desired. In case 
extreme grades are to be descended (such as 
Parker Hill),* and car is loaded to capacity, 
put gears into “intermediate” instead of 
“high,” as assumed above. More powerful 
braking action may be obtained by placing 
gears into “low.” This, however, will rarely 
be necessary unless all brakes are inopera¬ 
tive. . 

. 11. Use extreme caution in descending a 
hill. Bear in mind the possibility of engine, 
clutch, gears and brakes all going bad, and 
the effect upon your own safety under such 
circumstances.. If the road is unobstructed 
and such a difficulty should arise, keep a 
clear head and steer for level ground; other¬ 
wise turn apparatus into the side of the 
street. Collision with something will prob- 


*In Boston. 


ably result, but the least possible damage 
will have been done. ■ 

12. If, in ascending a hill, the car should 
some to a stop for some unexpected reason, 
and if the brakes are found or known to 
be inoperative, release clutch and put lever 
into “low” gear (unless this already hap¬ 
pens to be the case) and let clutch in. This 
will require quick an 1 positive action on the 
part of the operator. This will hold car 
from backing down the hill. Subsequent ac¬ 
tions will depend upon the cause of the trou¬ 
ble, and the operator will be governed ac¬ 
cordingly. 

Miscellaneous. 

13. If a long, easy down grade is to be 
negotiated, throw lever into neutral and 
coast, using brakes to keep car under con¬ 
trol. This allows engine to “cool off” and 
lengthens its life. Strains on the drive shaft 
are also reduced. This method is to be fol¬ 
lowed only when the grade is such as will 
cause the apparatus to coast freely at from 
20 to 25 miles per hour. When level ground 
is reached throw out clutch and gradually 
draw lever toward position of high gear; ac¬ 
celerate the engine until it is at the proper 
speed in revolutions per minute, and it will 
be found that the lever will automatically 
slip into place. Then let clutch in. 

14. Whenever for any reason clutch has 
been thrown out during motion of car (after 
the latter has been under way),, bring it to 
the speed in revolutions per minute which 
will correspond to car speed, and let in 
gradually. This requires practice, to be 
done efficiently. 

NOTE:—The above directions are for the 
purpose of making as efficient as is possible 
the operation of the heavy apparatus pos¬ 
sessed by the Fire Department. They should 
be rigidly observed. 

In connection with the above it should 
be emphasized that safety and carefulness 
are of more importance than a few seconds 
gained by taking even ordinary “chances.” 
Although one of the objects of automobile 
fire apparatus is to save time, it should be 
strictly borne in mind that to be of real serv¬ 
ice unusual care must be exercised in driv¬ 
ing, in order that the possibility of accidents 
may be avoided, and especially of accidents 
of a nature that will prevent arrival at the 
fire. 

SCHEDULE OF WORK AT DRILL 
SCHOOL. 

Boston Fire Department. 

Each morning recruits are lined up and 
instructed in drill movements to meet the 
requirements of roll call, funeral detail, ball 
detail and parade detail. 

First Day. —Inspection and use of tools 
and appliances, knots used on ropes shown. 

Second Day.—Review of appliances, ex¬ 
tinguishers charged and refilled, water-light 
used. Use of line to haul over hose hoist. 
Instructions in ventilating of windows and 
roof. 


334 



Third Day. —Making up line of hose on 
wagon, use of play-pipe shown; ladders 30, 
40 and 50 feet raised. Recruits going over 
50-foot ladder, up tower stairs over roof and 
down fire escape. 

Fourth Day. —Ladders 30, 40 and 50 feet 
raised, running a line over ladder to roof. 
Carrying a person on shoulders. 

Fifth Day. —Ladders 30, 40 and 50 feet 
raised. Instructions on dogging ladders, 
running two lines of hose from wagon, con¬ 
necting to hydrant and taking pipe over lad¬ 
der and fire escape to roof; running two 
lines to Eastman deluge set; instructions on 
different makes of hydrants, hoisting hose 
to dry in tower, use of hose-line shown. 

Sixth Day. —Ladders 30, 40 and 50 feet 
raised, running line of hose over 50-foot 
ladders, using hose hoist on roof, hauling 
line of hose over hose hoist. Connecting 
hose to standpipe on roof. Using Pompier 
ladders to first and second floor windows. 

Seventh Day. —Ladders 30, 40 and 50 feet 
raised, running two lines of hose; one taken 
over ladder up tower stairs to roof, one 
hauled to roof over hose hoist. Pompier 
ladders to fourth window. Jumping net used 
at low roof. 

Eighth Day. —Sliding life line using Pom¬ 
pier belts. Review on names and use of ap¬ 
pliances and tools. Uses of rake, axe and 
door opener. Tying knots on ropes shown. 

Ninth Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 65 feet 
raised, running line of hose over 65-foot 
ladder, up tower stairs to sixth floor win¬ 
dow; running line of hose over fire escape 
to roof, hauling 12-foot ladder over hose 
hoist to roof. Pompier ladder in chain to 
fifth window. 

Tenth Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 65 
feet raised. Pompier ladder from 65-foot 
ladder to sixth window. Line of hose run 
over 65-foot ladder and Pompier to seventh 
window. Pompier ladders to eighth win¬ 
dow in chain. Jumping net used. 

Eleventh Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 65 
feet raised, running line of hose over 65-foot 
ladder to sixth window. Pompier ladders to 
eighth window in chain. 

Twelfth Day. —Ladders, 30, 40, 50 and 65 
feet raised. Pompier ladder from 65-foot 
ladder to sixth window. Line of hose run 
over 65-foot ladder and up tower stairs to 
roof; line of hose up fire escape to roof. 

Thirteenth Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 
65 feet raised. Line of hose over 65-foot 
ladder, and up tower stairs to seventh win¬ 
dow. 

Fourteenth Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 
65 feet raised. All recruits go over 65-foot 
ladder, up tower stairs and down fire es¬ 
cape. Cellar pipes used, Hart pipe, Callahan 
pipe, Bresnan nozzle, Cooper hose jacket. 
Pompier ladder used single to fourth win¬ 
dow. 

Fifteenth Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 65 
feet raised. Pompier ladder to eighth win¬ 
dow single, new post hydrant shown. 


Sixteenth Day. —Life lines, use of Pompier 
belts, Wilson escape. Using big net in yard. 
Pompier ladder to eighth window single. 

Seventeenth Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 
65 feet raised. Pompier ladders to eighth 
window. Ladder No. 13 (extension) in yard, 
truck explained and ladder raised. Jumping 
net used. 

Eighteenth Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 
65 feet raised. Pompier ladders to eighth 
window in chain. Tower No. 2 in yard. 
Tower explained and raised. Pompier lad¬ 
der in relay, two men. Pompier ladder sin¬ 
gle. 

Nineteenth Day. —Ladders 30, 40, 50 and 
65 feet raised. Pompier ladder; 65-foot lad¬ 
der to sixth window. Running line of hose 
over 65-foot ladder and Pompier ladder to 
seventh window, running line of hose up fire 
escape to roof. Hauling line of hose over 
hose hoist to roof. Hauling 12-foot ladder 
over hose hoist to roof. 

Twentieth Day. —Ladders 30 and 65 feet 
raised. Pompier ladder from 65-foot ladder 
to sixth window, running line of hose over 
65-foot ladder and Pompier ladder to sev¬ 
enth window. Line of hose up fire escape to 
roof. Pompier ladder in chain to top win¬ 
dow. Pompier ladder in relay to eighth 
window. Pompier ladder single to eighth 
window. Carrying man on shoulders down 
30-foot ladder. Jumping into life net. Slid¬ 
ing down life line. Using Pompier belt. 

FIRST AID INFORMATION. 

A. GENERAL RULES. 

1. Have injured one lie on his back. 

2. Don’t move him if first aid can be 
given where he is. 

3. Don’t try to save clothing and don’t 
pull it or tear it from injured part; cut it 
away. 

4. Cut or unfasten clothing at neck and 
waist in order not to have it interfere with 
breathing or the circulation of the blood. 

5. Keep back the crowd. 

6. Don’t touch a wound with your fin¬ 
gers. 

7. Don’t wash a wound. 

8. Let the wound alone, except to cover 
it with the cleanest thing at hand, as a clean 
handkerchief or towel, etc. 

9. Don’t uncover injured one any more 
than necessary. 

10. In cold weather or in serious injuries 
keep patient warm with rugs, blankets, over¬ 
coats, etc. 

B. BLEEDING WOUNDS. 

1. If arm wound, hold it above head. 

2. If leg wound, put patient on his back 
and raise leg. 

3. If face or scalp wound, have patient sit¬ 
ting. 

If bleeding is slight, press firmly just 
above and just below wound or on each side 


335 


of it, but keep your fingers out of wound; 
or tie a clean handkerchief so knot comes 
over wound. 

If this does not stop it, put a stick under 
the handkerchief and twist it end for end 
(such a device is called a tourniquet); but 
remember this pressure may injure the part 
if continued too long; so every twenty min¬ 
utes untwist stick, and then twist it up 
again if bleeding begins. 

In bleeding wound of arm or leg, apply 
pressure or tourniquet between wound and 
body. 

Bleeding wounds of body or head should 
be covered with soft clean dressing and 
pressure applied. 

After stopping the bleeding, don’t try to 
close, clean or wash wound; cover it with 
clean soft dressing and let it alone. 

C. CAUSES OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS. 

A man may be unconscious from the fol¬ 
lowing causes: 

1. Fainting. 2. Knock-out. 3. Drunken¬ 
ness. 4. Drugs. 5. Loss of blood. 6. Fits. 
7. Sunstroke. 8. Freezing. 9. Shock (ex¬ 
haustion). 10. Being under water. 11. Gas. 
12. Smoke. 13. Fever. 14. Sleep. 15. Trance. 
16. Brain disease. 17. Kidney disease. 18. 
Diabetes. 

NOTE:—A man may have a whiskey 
breath and be unconscious from any of the 
above causes. 

Fainting or Exhaustion. 

1. Keep patient quiet on back, with head 
low. 

2. Loosen clothing about neck and waist. 

3. Keep patient warm. 

4. See that he has plenty of fresh air. 

5. Bathe face with cold water. 

6. Rub arms and hands with cold water. 

7. Give hot drinks, such as coffee or whis¬ 
key. 

Sunstroke. 

1. Move patient to a cool place. 

2. Remove all clothing. 

3. Apply cold water to head. 

4. Rub body with cold water. 

5. Never give stimulants or hot drinks. 

Freezing or Frost Bite. 

1. Rub frozen part briskly but gently with 
snow or cold water. 

2. Keep patient in cool place, never near 
a fire. 

3. Give whiskey or coffee or other warm 
liquids, with care, in small quantities. 

To Restore One Unconscious from Being 
Under Water. 

1. Strip patient to the waist. 

2. Turn him on his face. 

3. Clasp your hands under his belly and 
raise him, thus leaving his head low and 
draining water from his lungs. 

4. Clean out nose and mouth with hand¬ 
kerchief. 


5. Pull tongue forward and hold it with 
dry handkerchief. 

6. If pulmotor is used, follow the direc¬ 
tions “How to use Pulmotor,” as given on 
pages to 

7. If no pulmotor is used, produce “arti¬ 
ficial respiration” in the manner described 
in the following (a) to (e): 

(a) Kneel with patient’s head between 
your knees. 

(b) Then clasp his arms at the elbow and 
slowly raise them up and out, until they are 
beside your knees. 

(c) Then bring arms down along front 
and side of chest and then press firmly upon 
the chest. 

(d) Repeat these movements from twelve 
to fifteen times per minute, until patient is 
breathing well. 

(e) Do not give up for at least two hours. 

(A certain police officer restored a man 

after four hours’ work on him.) 

If an assistant is present, have him— 

(1) Hold ammonia to nose once in a 
while. 

(2) Slap chest with cold wet towel. 

(3) Remove rest of clothes. 

(4) Dry skin by rubbing. 

(5) When patient can swallow give stim¬ 
ulants and warm liquids with care. 

Suffocation: Gas, Smoke. 

1. Move patient to fresh air. 

2. Strip patient to waist. 

3. Produce artificial respiration in tbe 
manner described above; or 

4. Use pulmotor, if at hand. (See follow¬ 
ing directions “How to use Pulmotor,” 
pages 87 to 90.) 

5. Use stimulants and warm liquids with 
care. 

Burns. 

1. If clothing is stuck to burn, let it alone 
and cover it all with soft firm dressing. 

2. If burn is exposed, cover with soft,clean 
dressing, moistened if possible with* any 
clean oil or baking soda and water. 

Bruises. 

Bind firmly with clean soft cloth. 

Sprains. 

Apply firm bandage. 

Dislocations. 

Let them alone, because the bones may 
also be broken. 

Broken Bones without Broken Skin. 

1. If an arm, bind it firmly to the body. 

2. If a leg, bind it firmly to the other leg. 

3. If both legs, make splints as follows: 

(a) Get a board, umbrella, cane, straight 
limb of tree, or any strong rod a little 
shorter than the leg. 

(b) Cover it with anything soft so as 
not to bruise the skin, as towels, pieces of 
sheets or underclothes. 

(c) Place one splint on each side of leg 
and tie them securely with rope or handker¬ 
chief or belt or suspenders, or anything that 
will hold. 


336 


Broken Bones with Broken Skin. 

Treat as above, but first cover wound with 
soft clean dressing. 

WHAT CANDIDATES FOR PROMO¬ 
TION SHOULD KNOW. 

In Boston Fire Department. 

1. In order to win out in such competitive 
examination for promotion, Firemen must, 
besides having a good Department record 
for seniority, length of service and efficiency 
(which is a matter of honest, every-day 
work), prove knowledge in a variety of sub¬ 
jects pertaining to their calling, such as: 

2. General knowledge of the city. 

3. Regulations of the Fire Department; 
laws and ordinances relating to buildings 
and to the authority of the Fire Department; 
use and occupancy of buildings; regulations 
relating toexplosives and combustibles. 

4. The proper method of handling single 
and Siamesed lines of hose and the differ¬ 
ent connections and nozzles; roof and lad¬ 
der lines, burst hose, standpipes; cellar- 
pipes, extinguishers, sprinklers and other 
auxiliary fire-extinguishing appliances. 

5. The causes of fires; how to handle 
chimney fires, fire in defective flues; grease 
oil and similar fires; cellar, sub-cellar, sub¬ 
way and ship and dock fires; ammonia, acid, 
chemical and gas fires; lime and cement 
fires; awning fires; electric, automobile and 
garage fires; sawdust and shaving chute 
fires; brush, grass and similar fires; lumber 
and coal yard fires. 

6. Various things that should not be done 
at fires, such as playing water carelessly; 
playing water from ladders before the hose 
lines are secured, etc. 

7. Dangers to be avoided, such as nitric 
acid fumes; working on unsafe roofs, etc. 

8. The proper method of ventilating all 
buildings on fire; of opening locked doors 
and windows, shutters, gates and screens; 
of breaking window glass, window frames, 
cutting iron bars, gratings and railings. How 
to cut holes through roofs, floors, walls, etc. 
Construction of buildings, so far as this may 
favor or retard the progress of fire. 

9. The use of aerial, extension, roof and 
scaling ladders; handling of water towers, 
ladder trucks and chemical engines. 

10. Water supply, high pressure, high and 
low service. 


11. Water and combustibles. Water as an 
added weight on floors, when played on 
wool, cotton and the hke. Overhauling burnt 
material. Making up lines of hose. 

12. Engine relay work. Types and oper¬ 
ation of hydrants. 

13. Location of hydrants, fire alarm boxes, 
etc. 

14. Alarm codes and signals. Telephone 
instructions. 

15. Care of horse-drawn and motor-pro¬ 
pelled apparatus, tools, implements, etc. 

16. Fire prevention. 

17. Supervision of fire drills in factories, 
theaters, schools, etc. 

18. Theater inspections and details to pub¬ 
lic places of amusement. 

19. Equipment and Department practice, 
as set forth in Part I of this manual, but 
applied to the local Fire Department. 

20. Mathematics, including addition, sub¬ 
traction, multiplication and division of whole 
and fractional numbers, squares and square 
roots (as applied to the substitution of two 
small nozzles for one large one, or vice 
versa; and the relation of the base and alti¬ 
tude to the hypothenuse in right-angled tri¬ 
angles), simple formulas. Practical formu¬ 
las and rules for calculating exactly (at the 
desk), and for estimating roughly (at fires): 

(a) The placing of ladders. 

(b) The discharge in gallons when nozzle 
size and pressure are given. 

(c) The number of lengths of hose re¬ 
quired when location of fire in building is 
known. 

(d) The pressure required to deliver wa¬ 
ter at any given point in a standpipe. 

(e) The pressure exerted at any given 
point bv water from tank in a standpipe. 

(f) The friction in hose. 

(g) Pressures as applied to hose and noz¬ 
zles. 

(h) The effective reaching distance of fire 
streams, either vertical or horizontal. 

(i) The capacity in gallons of a pump. 

21. Firemen aspiring to become officers 
should study books and periodicals on fire 
prevention and fire fighting; the annual re¬ 
ports of the Fire Departments of large cit¬ 
ies when obtainable; the reports of the Na¬ 
tional Board of Fire Underwriters; Crosby- 
Fiske Handbook of Fire Protection and sim¬ 
ilar books; clippings on fire matters from 
the daily and periodical press; catalogues of 
Fire Department supplies; the material, con¬ 
struction, uses, dangers, etc., of every kind 
of fire apparatus, tools, implements, etc. 


337 



CONTENTS 


Page 


ENGINEER OF STEAMER—Answers to New York City Examination Questions, 

May 2, 1913; June 8, 1909, and 1902—Specimen Examination Questions for 
Engineer of Steamer, Asst. Engineer and Engineer Grade 2, New York City 

and Chicago—Practice Questions and Answers (13,000 words). 1- 15 

LIEUTENANT (ASST. FOREA1AN)—Answers to New York City Examination 
Questions, May 20, 1915; Nov. 9, 1912; Feb. 26 and 27, 1912; Sept. 23, 24, 25, 26 
and 27, 1907—Specimen Examination Questions, New York City, Newark and 

Chicago (54,000 words). 16- 74 

CAPTAIN (FOREMAN)—Answers to New York City Examination Questions, 

Dec. 15 and 16, 1915; June 23, 1915; April 29, 1914; Aug. 12, 1913 (2 sets); 

June 21, 1910—Specimen Examination Questions, New York City, Newark and 

San Francisco (63,000 words). 76-146 

BATTALION CHIEF—Answers to Examination Questions, New York City, Aug. 

25 and 26, 1914—Specimen Examination Questions, New York City, Newark 

and Chicago (19,000 words). 147-167 

DEPUTY CHIEF—Answers to Examination Questions, New York City, Aug. 27 
and 28, 1914—Specimen Examination Questions, New York City, Newark and 
San Francisco, for Deputy Chief, Deputy Chief in Charge of Marine Division, 

Chief of Construction and Repairs, and Asst. Chief Engineer (23,000 words).. 168-192 
CHIEF—Answers to Examination Questions, New York City, July 10 and 11, 1911 
(2 sets)—Specimen Examination Questions for Chief and Chief Engineer, New 

York City and Philadelphia (18,000 words). 193-212 

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH BUREAU—Specimen Examination Questions for 
Superintendent, Inspector of Fire Alarm Boxes, and Telegraph Operator, New 

York City, New York State and New Jersey (3,000 words). 212-215 

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU—Answers to Examination Questions for Fire 
Prevention Inspector, New York City, Dec. 26, 1912, and Chief Examiner, Fire 
Prevention Bureau, May 28, 1912—Answers to Non-Competitive Examination 
Questions—Practice Questions—Specimen Examination Questions for Inspector 
and Deputy Chief, Fire Prevention Bureau; Asst. Inspector of Combustibles, 

and Oil Surveyor—Fire Prevention Don’ts (22.000 words). 216-240 

FIRE MARSHAL AND ASST. FIRE MARSHAL—Answers to Examination 
Questions for Asst. Fire Marshal, New York City, May 25, 1915; Nov. 15, 

1911; March 1, 1907—Specimen Examination Questions for Fire Marshal and 
Asst. Fire Marshal, New York City—Taking Testimony and Report Writing— 

Forms of Incendiarism (18,000 words). 241-260 

NEW YORK STATE FIRE MARSHAL BUREAU—Specimen Examination 
Questions for Inspector of Fire Appliances, Advisory Engineer, Electrical En¬ 
gineer, Examiner of Plans and Specifications, and Chief Boiler Inspector— 

Questions and Answers on Causes of Fires (6,000 words). 261-267 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON INTERIOR FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS 

AND FIRE DRILLS. 268 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. 269-271 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON MISCELLANEOUS FIRE APPLIANCES 271-272 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON DEFINITIONS OF BUILDING TERMS 273-275 
NEW YORK FIRE COLLEGE OFFICIAL INSTRUCTION—Administration; 
Discipline; How to Fight Various Classes of Fires; High Pressure System; 
Operation of Apparatus; Auxiliary Appliances; Hydraulics; Fire Boats; Fire 

Alarm Telegraph System; Care of Horses; First Aid. etc. (33,000 words)- 276-312 

COMPANY SCHOOL INSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS IN NEW YORK 



312-316 

316-321 


322-337 


words) 


338 
















FIRE DEPARTMENT HYDRAULIC PROBLEMS 

---and How to Work Them 

The only book that explains in simple terms how to work out hy¬ 
draulic problems in every day fire-fighting. It gives the theory in a 
manner that can be readily understood by Firemen who have not had 
the advantage of technical training. 

It includes many New York Fire College and Civil Service Examina¬ 
tion Problems, illustrated by full-page drawings. 


CONTENTS: 

Simple Rules and Methods of Finding Square Root—Friction Loss 
in Fire Hose, Water Mains, Standpipes and Fittings—Nozzle Discharge 
—Engine and Nozzle Pressure—Water Tower Discharge—Height of 
Streams—Pump Slip and Pump Displacement—Pump Capacity—Horse¬ 
power of Fire Engines—Automatic Sprinkler Discharge—Fire Hydrant 
Discharge—Volume—Siamese Connections—Underwriters’ and Other 
Tables—Civil Service Examination Problems, etc.—21 Full-page Plates. 


Price, Two Dollars, Postpaid. 


CIVIL SERVICE CHRONICLE 
23 Duane Street.New York 


339 








PUBLICATIONS OF CIVIL SERVICE CHRONICLE, 23 Duane St., N. Y. 


CIVIL SERVICE BOOKS 


FIRE DEPT. PROMOTION EXAMINATION 
INSTRUCTION. For all ranks and bureaus. 
Contains 750 Civil Service Ques. and Ans. and 
1000 Specimen Questions. 300,000 words of in¬ 
struction for Fire Engineer, Fire Lieutenant, 
Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, 
Chief, Fire Prevention Inspector, Fire Marshal 
and Asst. Fire Marshal, Fire Alarm Telegraph 
Bureau, Official Instruction of N. Y. Fire Col¬ 
lege and of the Boston Fire Dept., Reports, 
etc. Second, enlarged, edition. Cloth, $3.50; 
paper, $3.00. 

FIREMAN CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION 
INSTRUCTION. Contains 100,000 words of sim¬ 
ple instruction. Answers to all previous Exam¬ 
ination Questions—500 Questions and Answers, 
covering Fire Fighting and Duties—Rules of N. 
Y. Fire Dept.—City, State and Federal Govern¬ 
ment — Arithmetic — Memory Test — Reports — 
First Aid to Injured—Medical and Physical Re¬ 
quirements. Paper, $1. 

FIRE DEPT. HYDRAULIC PROBLEMS AND 
HOW TO WORK THEM. Simple Rules and 
Methods of Finding Square Root; Friction Loss 
in Fire Hose, Water Mains, Standpipes and 
Fittings; Nozzle Discharge; Engine and Nozzle 
Pressure; Water Tower Discharge; Height of 
Streams; Pump Slip and Pump Displacement; 
Pump Capacity; Horse-power of Fire Engines; 
Automatic Sprinkler Discharge; Fire Hydrant 
Discharge; Volume; Siamese Connections; Un¬ 
derwriters’ and Other Tables; Civil Service Ex¬ 
amination Problems, etc.; 21 full-page plates. 
Paper, $2. 


FIRE DEPT. MOTOR APPARATUS. Descrip¬ 
tion and Equipment of every type of Motor 
Apparatus in use in the New York Fire Dept., 
with Official N. Y. Fire Dept. Instruction on 
Operation and Care; Questions and Answers on 
the Theory of Auto Engine Operation; Defects 
and Cost of Maintenance of Motor Pumping 
Engines, etc. Paper, $1. 

HANDBOOK OF INSTRUCTION FOR FIRE 
LIEUTENANTS AND FIRE CAPTAINS. Exclu¬ 
sively composed of official instruction of the N. 
Y. Fire College. Much of the instruction is in the 
form of Questions and Answers. Paper, 75 cents. 

FIRE ENGINEERS' QUIZZ BOOK. Contains 
225 Questions and Answers, and includes descrip¬ 
tions of engines in use in N. Y. Fire Dept. By 
Capt. W. Benedict Watts. Paper, 50 cents. 


STEAM APPARATUS IN USE IN THE N. Y. 
FIRE DEPT. A complete description. Paper, 75 
cents. Set of 7 Blue Prints, illustrating descrip¬ 
tive matter in the book, $1.25, extra. 


TWO PLATOON BRIEF FOR FIREMEN. It 

is the most exhaustive argument ever presented 
on the subject of why Firemen should be eman¬ 
cipated from the slavery of 21 hours’ duty a day 
and be given a system of working in two shifts. 
Paper, 50 cents. 

POLICE DEPT. PROMOTION EXAMINA¬ 
TION INSTRUCTION. Contains 175,000 words 
of instruction, 1,000 questions and answers (tak¬ 
ing in all past examinations up to date) for Ser¬ 
geant, Lieutenant, Captain and Inspector; 01 
Reports, N. Y. Police College Instruction. Cloth, 
$3; paper, $2.50. 

HOW TO GET ON THE POLICE FORCE. For 

candidates for Patrolman, Police Matron, and 
Policewoman. Contains 100,000 words of Simple 
Instruction, including: 725 Questions and An¬ 
swers, Arithmetic, Memory Test, official In¬ 
struction of the School of Recruits, Official Rules 
of N. Y. Police Dept., Answers to all previous 
New York Examination Questions, Reports, 
Definitions of Crime, City, State and Federal 
Government, First Aid to Injured, Requirements 
and Form of Application. Paper, $1. 

POLICE LIEUTENANTS’ AND CAPTAINS' 
CATECHISM. Contains Answers to 8 sets of 
New York Examination Questions, including In¬ 
spector. Paper, 25 cents. 

THE POLICE PROMOTER. A simple digest of 
all New York laws and ordinances relating to 
Police duty. An invaluable pocket companion 
for all ranks. Cloth, $1.75; by mail, $1.85. 

POST OFFICE INSPECTOR: A COMPLETE 
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. Includes 8 sep¬ 
arate books covering Duties, Civics, Arithmetic, 
Geography, Spelling, Letter Writing, Penman¬ 
ship and General Instructions, and 4uu Ques. and 
Ans. on Postal laws and regulations. Complete 
set, $3. 


POSTAL CLERK AND LETTER CARRIER 
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING 
P. O. INSPECTOR AND 4TH CLASS POST¬ 
MASTER and for MIDDLE GRADE CLERICAL 
EXAMINATIONS generally. Covers Copying 
from Plain Copy—Letter Writing—Arithmetic- 
Spelling—Penmanship — Punctuation — Reading 
Addresses—Answers to Past Examination Ques¬ 
tions—llo Questions and Answers on Grammar 
—How to Fill Out an Application Blank. 6o,U00 
Words of Instruction. Paper, 75 cents. 


MIDDLE GRADE CLERICAL EXAMINA¬ 
TIONS SUPPLEMENT. Contains 500 specimen 
civil service examination questions for 2d Grade 
Clerk, 3d Grade Clerk, Junior Clerk, Temporary 
Clerk with Knowledge of Filing and Indexing, 
Clerk with Knowledge of Bookkeeping, Record 
Clerk, Office Assistant, Indexer, cataloguer, etc. 
Paper, 50 cents. 


FIRE PREVENTION EXAMINATION IN¬ 
STRUCTION. 650 Ques. and Ans. for Civil Serv¬ 
ice Examinations for Fire Prevention Inspector, 
etc., with 200 Sections of New York Fire Pre¬ 
vention Laws, Regulations, etc. 90,000 words of 
instruction. Paper, $2. 


INSTRUCTION 


FEDERAL 


FIRST 


GRADE CLERICAL EXAMINATIONS. Arith¬ 
metic-Penmanship-Report Writing — Copying 
and Correcting Manuscript—Geography and Civi 
Government—Spelling—Answers to Past Exam¬ 
ination Questions—A Description of What Takes 
Place in the Examination Room. Paper, 50 cents 



340 


i 














PUBLICATIONS OF CIVIL SERVICE CHRONICLE, 23 Duane St., N. Y. 


CIVIL SERVICE MANUAL NO. 1.—ARITH- 
METIC. Covers every phase of Arithmetic used 
at Civil Service Examinations. Measurements— 
Number Reading — Addition — Reduction—Sub¬ 
traction — Multiplication — Division — Complex 
Fractions—Common Fractions Changed to Dec¬ 
imals—Measurements—Percentage— Commercial 
Paper—Conversion of Currency—Square Root— 
Miscellaneous Problems. The book contains a 
large number of questions and answers. Cloth, $1. 

CIVIL SERVICE MANUAL NO. 2.—ENGLISH 
AND ALLIED SUBJECTS. Punctuation—Dic¬ 
tation—Penmanship—Synonyms — Homonyms — 
Correct Use of Words—Letter Writing and Com¬ 
position—Plain Copy—Rough Draft—Reading 
Addresses —Abbreviations—Stenography—Type¬ 
writing—Report Writing—Copying and Correct¬ 
ing Manuscript. Cloth, $1.00. 

CIVIL SERVICE MANUAL NO. 3.—GEOGRA¬ 
PHY, CIVIL GOVERNMENT, SPELLING. 

Geography and Trial Examination Papers— 
Spelling—Civil Government. Cloth, $1.00. 

COMPLETE COURSE IN THE U. S. CIVIL 
SERVICE. For 1st, 2d and 3d Grade Federal 
Examinations. It contains a large number of 
problems and other matter appropriate to each 
branch of these examinations, and includes: 
1st, 2d and 3d Grade Arithmetic; 1st, 2d and 3d 
Grade Spelling; Copying from Plain Copy; Read¬ 
ing Addresses; Composition and Letter Writing; 
Rough Draft; Conversion of Currency; Geogra¬ 
phy. Cloth, $1.25. 

MINOR CLERICAL EXAMINATIONS. For 

Federal 3d Grade Sub-Clerical, Office Boy and 
Minor Clerical Examinations generally. Covers 
Arithmetic; Letter Writing; Spelling; Copying 
from Plain Copy; Penmanship; Punctuation; 
City, State and Federal Government; 110 Ques¬ 
tions and Answers on Grammar, and an elab¬ 
orate collection of examination papers for Office 
Boy, Messenger, Page and Federal Sub-Clerical, 
including N. Y. City, N. Y. State, New Jersey 
and Chicago, with Answers to many past Exam¬ 
ination Questions. 50,000 words of instruction. 
Paper, 75 cents. 

STENOGRAPHER AND TYPIST. Complete 
manual of preparation for New York, New Jer¬ 
sey and U. S. civil service examinations, by 
Clias. L. Frank, Instructor in Stenography, New 
York University. Paper, $1. 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IN GEOGRA¬ 
PHY. Specially prepared for Federal First 
Grade Clerical and Railway Mail Examinations. 
Paper, 35 cents. 

SIMPLE LESSONS IN PUNCTUATION. Gives 
punctuation in a nutshell. Paper, 25 cents. 

MILK AND FOOD INSPECTOR. 359 Ques. 
and Ans., Reports, etc., on milk, groceries, 
meats, etc., for civil service examinations, and 
321 Rules of N. Y. City Health Dept. 50,000 
words of instruction. Paper, $1. 

INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS, MASONRY 
AND FOUNDATIONS. Contains 200 Answers to 
Civil Service Examination Questions and 350 
other Examination Questions. Paper, $1. 

INSPECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. Contains 
200 Answers to Civil Service Examination Ques¬ 
tions and 400 other Examination Questions. Pa¬ 
per, $1. 

INSPECTOR OF WATER SUPPLY. Contains 
100 Answers to Civil Service Examination Ques¬ 
tions and 200 other Examination Questions. Pa¬ 
per, 75 cents. 

PUBLIC WORKS INSPECTION. Specially 
prepared for Civil Service Examinations. Covers 
Duties, Methods of Inspection, Reports, Mathe¬ 
matics, Specifications, Formulas. Paper, $1.50. 

RODMAN INSTRUCTION FOR CIVIL SERV¬ 
ICE EXAMINATIONS. Contains Answers to 100 
N. Y. State Civil Service examination questions, 
350 specimen questions for N. Y. City, N. Y. 
State. New Jersey and Chicago, etc. Paper, $1.25. 

RULES AND EXAMINATION PAPERS FOR 
PRISON KEEPER. Contains specimen examin¬ 
ation questions for N. Y. City, N. Y. State. New 
Jersey and Chicago, and covers Keeper, Guard, 
Officer, Watchman, Deputy Warden and Police 
Doorman. Contains rules in N. Y. City and 
N. Y. State Prisons. Paper, 50 cents. 


ATTENDANCE OFFICER EXAMINATION 
INSTRUCTION (TRUANT OFFICER). Con¬ 
tains 450 Ques. and Ans., Reports, Forms, Speci¬ 
men Exam. Questions, etc. Paper, $2. 

350 QUES. AND ANS. FOR PROBATION OF¬ 
FICER. Covering Duties, Laws, Reports, An¬ 
swers to Examination Questions and 100 previ¬ 
ous Examination Questions in the N. Y. City 
and N. Y. State and New Jersey Services for 
Probation Officer, Chief Probation Officer, Pa¬ 
role Agent and Parole Officer. Paper, $2. 

COURT ATTENDANT EXAMINATION IN¬ 
STRUCTION. Ans. to 9 sets of Examination 
Questions in the Civil Service of the City and 
State of New York, together with 150 Practice 
Questions and Answers, 450 Specimen Ques. in 
the New York City, New York State and New 
Jersey Services for Asst. Court Clerk, Deputy 
Clerk, Special Asst. Deputy Clerk, District Court 
Clerk, Court Crier and Sergeant-at-Arms. Pa¬ 
per, $1. 

150 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR CIVIL 
SERVICE EXAMINATIONS FOR LAW CLERK. 

Answers to Examination Questions in N. Y. City 
and N. Y. State; Practice Questions and An¬ 
swers; Specimen Examination Questions; Defini¬ 
tions; Arithmetic; Letter Writing; Spelling. Pa¬ 
per, 75 cents. 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR PROCESS 
SERVER. Answers to Questions asked at 5 N. 
Y. Civil Service Examinations; Practice Ques¬ 
tions and Answers; Extracts from the N. Y. 
Civil Code, etc. Paper, 50 cents. 

LICENSE INSPECTOR EXAMINATION IN¬ 
STRUCTION. Contains loo Ques. and Ans. 
Covering Previous Examinations, Duties, Laws, 
Reports, Forms, etc., and all N. Y. City Laws 
and Ordinances relating to Licenses. 5u,uo0 
words of instruction. Paper, 50 cents. 

TAXICAB INSPECTOR EXAMINATION IN¬ 
STRUCTION. Contains Ques. and Ans. on Du¬ 
ties of Taxicab Inspectors, Descriptions and il¬ 
lustrations of the various types of Meters in 
use in N. Y. City, Rates of hare, Forms of Ap¬ 
plication for Licenses, Ordinances, Rules, etc. 
Paper, $1. _ 

INSPECTOR OF METERS AND WATER 
CONSUMPTION MANUAL. With Ques. and 
Ans. (ill.); boards, 50 cents. “HOW TO RE¬ 
DUCE WATER TAXES"; for the same exam¬ 
ination. Paper, $1. 

INSTRUCTION FOR JANITOR-ENGIN EERS. 

Answers to 100 Civil Service Examination Ques¬ 
tions, including Janitor-Engineer, Janitor, Jan¬ 
itor Steam Heating, Stationary Engineer and 
Stationary Engineman, Board of Education In¬ 
structions to Janitors, etc. Paper, 75 cents. 

150 QUES. AND ANS. FOR MALE ATTEND¬ 
ANT, WATCHMAN, MESSENGER AND 
BRIDGE TENDER in N. Y. City. Paper, 50 
cents. 

ATTENDANT—MALE AND FEMALE—SUP¬ 
PLEMENT. Contains 150 additional Ques. and 
Ans., also Regulations for Baths, Beaches, 
Parks and Recreation Piers. Paper, 50 cents. 

NURSE INSTRUCTION FOR CIVIL SERV¬ 
ICE EXAMINATIONS. Ans. to examination 
questions and specimen questions for Nurse: 
Trained, Hospital, Field, Visiting, Tuberculosis, 
School; Nurse’s Asssitant; Head Nurse, Super¬ 
vising Nurse, Asst. Supt. and Supt., for N. Y. 
City, N. Y. State, New Jersey, Chicago and 
Federal. Paper, 50 cents. 

INSTRUCTION FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAM¬ 
INATIONS FOR DOCKMASTER. Answers to 
the previous Examination Questions, Official 
Rules of N. Y. Dock Dept., Instructions to Dock- 
masters, Reports, 100 Practice Questions, etc. 
Paper, $1. 

CIVIL SERVICE CHRONICLE— The National 
Journal of the Civil Service. Published w r eekly 
at New York. Every issue contains Free In¬ 
struction for many popular Civil Service Exam¬ 
inations, in addition to generally covering the 
field of news of interest to Civil Service em¬ 
ployes. $2 a year; $1.15 for 6 months; 60 cents 
for 3 months; 5 cents a copy. Sample, free. 


341 







FIRE DEPARTMENT 

MOTOR APPARATUS 

Description and Equipment of Every Type of Motor Apparatus in the 
New York Fire Department. 


Official Instruction of the New York Fire Department 

on Operation and Care—Questions and Answers on Theory of Auto 
Engine Operation—Defects and Cost of Maintenance of Motor 
Pumping Engine—Fire College Instruction. 

Seventeen Types Described 

Ahrens-Fox Gasolene Hose Wagon and Pump—Christie Tractor—Knox 
Gasolene Hose Wagon—Webb Gasolene Hose Wagon—American - 
La France Gasolene Truck—Webb Gasolene-Electric Hook and Lad¬ 
der Truck—Webb Electric Couple-Gear Tractor—Waterous Gaso¬ 
lene Wagon and Pump—Cadillac Gasolene Emergency Wagon for 
Rescue Squads—Nott Combination Gasolene Hose Wagon and 
Pump—Mack Gasolene Hook and Ladder Truck—Mack Gasolene 
Chemical and Hose Wagon—Nott Gasolene Hose Wagon—Crook 
Gasolene Fuel Wagon—Mack Gasolene High Pressure and Regu¬ 
lation Hose Wagon—Garford Gasolene Tractor—Cross Gasolene 
Tractor—Christensen Self-Starter. 


Price, One Dollar. 


CIVIL SERVICE CHRONICLE 

23 DUANE STREET.NEW YORK 


342 








FIREMAN 

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMI¬ 
NATION INSTRUCTION 

Latest Book Containing 

500 QUES. AND ANS. 

On Duties, Rules, Fire-Fighting, etc., and 
Answers to Previous Examination 
Questions. 

GOVERNMENT 

The simplest, most comprehensive chap¬ 
ter on Government ever written, including 
City, State and Federal. 

ARITHMETIC—MEMORY TEST—RE¬ 
PORT WRITING—FIRST AID TO 
THE INJURED. 

REQUIREMENTS OF STUDENTS AT 
THE NEW YORK FIRE COLLEGE 

and in the School of Instruction for 
Recruits. 

APPLICATION FORMS, PHYSICAL 
AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS 
AND STRENGTH TESTS. 

100,000 Words of Instruction. 


Price $1.00, postpaid. 


CIVIL SERVICE CHRONICLE 
23 Duane Street - - New York 


225 Q. and A. for Fire 

Engineer; 50 Cents 

“The Engineers’ Quiz Book,” by Capt. 
W. Benedict Watts, N. Y. F. D. Especially 
written for candidates taking the examina¬ 
tion for Engineer of Steamer. Contains 225 
practical Questions and Answers. Includes 
descriptions of the various engines in use 
in the Fire Department, the principal 
pumps, care of engines, various types of 
boilers, etc. Simple and comprehensive. 
Price, 50 cents; by mail, 55 cents.—CIVIL 
SERVICE CHRONICLE, 23 Duane Street, 
New York. 


STEAM 

APPARATUS 

IN USE IN THE 

N. Y. FIRE DEPARTMENT 
A Complete Description. 

CONTENTS. 

La France Boiler, Main La France Pump, 
La France Pump, Clapp and Jones Feed 
Pump, American Feed Pump, Amoskeag 
Feed Pump, Clapp and Jones Coil Boiler, 
Amoskeag Boiler, Amoskeag Pump, Amer¬ 
ican or Fox Boiler, American Feed Pump, 
Nott Boiler, Nott Main Pump, Clapp and 
Jones Main Pump, American Pump, Vari¬ 
able Exhausts, Stay Bolts and Rivets, Au¬ 
tomatic Relief Valves, Churn Valves, Rules 
for Finding Capacity Per Minute When 
Size of Pump is Known; Rule to Get Total 
Amount of Pressure Under the Seat of a 
Safety Valve; Rule for Finding Size of 
Safety Valve Required for a Boiler; Rule 
for Finding Horse-power of a Fire En¬ 
gine; Rule for Finding Area of a Safety 
Valve; Rule for Finding the Safe Working 
Pressure of a Boiler; Rule for Finding 
Diameter of a Boiler When Circumference 
is Known; Horse-power of an American 
First Size Boiler; Rule for Finding Aggre¬ 
gate Strain Caused by the Pressure of 
Steam on the Shell of Steam Boilers. 

PRICE, 75 CENTS, POSTPAID. 

BLUE PRINTS 

OF 

BOILERS, PUMPS AND 
VALVES 

There are seven blue prints, as follows: 
4 boilers, including pumps; 1 of slide valve, 
and 2 of feed pumps. 

The blue prints should be studied in con¬ 
nection with the book, although the book 
can be studied independently of the blue 
prints. 

PRICE, $1.25 (EXTRA). 

By Insured Mail, $1.35. 


CIVIL SERVICE CHRONICLE 
23 Duane Street - - New York 


343 












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Asked at nearly all Civil Service Examinations, a list of all employes, 
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service and the services of the State and City of New York. All are 
welcome to use the Free Information Bureau. 

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 


0 033 266 2224 


FIRE PREVENTION 

EXAMINATION INSTRUCTION 


In this book, for the first time since the New York Fire Prevention 
Bureau was organized, is the whole subject of amendments, new laws, 
regulations, conflicting jurisdiction, etc., cleared up and brought to date. 

650 QUES. AND ANS. 

And 200 Sections of Laws, Ordinances and Regulations. 

90,000 Words of Simple Instruction 

By Samuel Rosenblum, B. S., C. E., 

Former Chief Examiner , Fire Prevention Bureau, New York City . 

PRICE, $2.00, POSTPAID. 

CONTENTS. 


Answers to Questions Asked at Past Ex¬ 
aminations for Fire Prevention Inspector 
and Chief Examiner of Fire Prevention. 

Ques. and Ans. on the Fire Prevention 
Law. 

Ques. and Ans. on Bureau of Fire Preven¬ 
tion Regulations. 

City Ordinances cn Fires and Fire Preven¬ 
tion. 

Rules for Fire Prevention in New York 
City Public Schools. 

Bureau of Fire Prevention Requirements 
for Motors and Motor Enclosures. 

Jurisdiction of the New York City Bureau 
of Fire Prevention and Its Relation to 
Other Departments and Bureaus. 

Ques. and Ans. on Causes of Fires. 

Ques. and Ans. on Interior Fire Alarm Sys¬ 
tems and Fire Drills. 

Ques. and Ans. on Standpipe (Fire-Line) 
Equipments. 

Ques. and Ans. on Sprinkler Systems. 

Ques. and Ans. on Miscellaneous Fire Ap¬ 
pliances. 


Ques. and Ans. on Combustibles and Ha¬ 
zardous Establishments. 

Ques. and Ans. on Tenement House and 
Labor Law Requirements. 

Ques. and Ans. on Theatres and Other 
Places of Amusement. 

City Ordinances on Motion Picture Exhibi-' 
tions. 

Fire Department Regulations for the Con¬ 
struction and Use of Portable Motion 
Picture Booths. 

Building Code Requirements for Motion 
Picture Theatres. 

Building Code Requirements for Fireproof 
Construction. 

Building Code Requirements for Altering, 
Changing or Demolishing Buildings. 

Present Building Code Requirements for 
Chimneys, Flues and Heating Appliances. 

Proposed Building Code Requirements for 
Chimneys, Flues and Heating Appliances. 

Ques. and Ans. on Building Code and 
Charter Requirements. 

Ques. and Ans. on Definitions of Building 
Terms. 


CIVIL SERVICE CHRONICLE 
23 Duane Street -. 


New York 






